Executive Orders and Action Updates

The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) strongly opposes the reinstatement of the Travel Ban, as introduced through the June 4 Presidential Proclamation. Set to take effect on Monday, June 9, 2025, this alarming policy reintroduces the discriminatory framework of the original ‘Muslim Travel Ban’ – Executive Order 13769, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” issued in 2017 by President Donald Trump and repealed in 2021 after widespread legal and public backlash. While framed as a national security measure, the reality is far more troubling. The policy restricts travel from 19 countries, many of which are Arab, Muslim-majority, or home to Black and Brown communities. By targeting entire nations rather than evaluating individuals based on credible evidence, the ban unjustly punishes millions of people simply because of where they were born and carries far-reaching consequences that ultimately undermine the prosperity and well-being of all Americans. NNAAC calls for the immediate reversal of this proclamation and urges communities, lawmakers, and the courts to act swiftly to reject this harmful and unnecessary policy. Full travel bans apply to: Afghanistan Burma (Myanmar) Chad Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen Partial restrictions apply to: Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan Venezuela The policy also singles out Egypt for further scrutiny and includes a review mechanism every 90 to 180 days, allowing for countries to be added or removed at any time. This creates ongoing uncertainty for immigrant communities and their families. There is no evidence that blanket travel bans improve national security. A 2020 Cato Institute study found that no individuals from the originally banned countries were responsible for a single deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil between 1975 and 2017. The previous ‘Muslim Travel Ban’ caused chaos at airports, traumatized families, stoked Islamophobia, and damaged America’s reputation globally. Its impact still reverberates today. Arab and MENA communities across the U.S. continue to face the psychological and material consequences of that policy. Read more from the Center for Arab Narratives. If implemented, this renewed ban would do the same. It would separate families, halt educational and employment opportunities, and punish innocent people simply because of where they are from. It will also directly impact millions of American citizens with ties to these countries, many of whom will be blocked from reuniting with loved ones, sponsoring relatives, or traveling freely. But the consequences go beyond personal hardship. This ban, along with mounting attacks on international students, ideological screenings in visa processes, and exclusionary immigration policies, sends a chilling message that the United States is closing its doors to global talent, collaboration, and exchange. The ripple effects will be felt across society, from universities and research labs to hospitals, tech firms, and local economies. They will undermine innovation, workforce development, and even the future of healthcare and scientific advancement. This hurts every American, regardless of their background. Exemptions (Per the Proclamation): Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) Individuals with visas issued before

The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), an institution of ACCESS, is focusing their 2025 “Build and Block” strategy to address policies that threaten the social safety net and demonize communities. The building work is spearheaded by NNAAC along with its members and allies around the nation. The efforts are aimed at strengthening and improving access to the social safety net, namely health care, education and other public programs geared towards helping individuals and families get out of poverty and become more self-sufficient.  The blocking action is focused on safety net protection – monitoring and addressing efforts to cut Medicaid, education, food assistance and other programs. In addition, NNAAC is working with allies across communities to push back on political fearmongering around immigration and to ‘take on hate’.  “With 36 members in 13 states, NNAAC has the national reach and local depth to help protect democracy for all Americans and block policies that are harmful to the most vulnerable communities,” said NNAAC Director Rima Meroueh. “No matter who you voted for in November, you don’t deserve to have your federal benefits cut, your community demonized, and your ancestry scapegoated.” The Social Safety Net President Trump tapped Elon Musk to lead a task force dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with a mandate to cut costs across the federal government. Musk declared a $2 trillion reduction target of the federal budget for DOGE which would have a massive impact on mandatory spending programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, federal aid for public schools, public housing and rental aid. While working to protect the safety net from potential cuts, NNAAC is also using data to strengthen it. In 2024, after years of coalition work, NNAAC and allies successfully persuaded the Biden administration to make “Middle Eastern or North African (MENA)” an option on federal questionnaires about the race and ethnicity of Americans. Prior to this historic change, anyone with roots in the MENA region had to identify themselves as White, a requirement that adversely affected federal benefit calculations for both MENA and White Americans. In 2025, NNAAC and its members will keep working with policymakers at all levels of government – including in Lansing, Michigan, and other state capitals — to utilize more detailed data in the design and implementation of more effective public programs.   Fearmongering and Demonizing Communities Shortly after taking office, Trump ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct raids in major U.S. cities in support of his campaign promise to rid the nation of undocumented immigrants. The policies are often justified with divisive language, bigoted rhetoric and misinformation. In the first weeks of the new administration, thousands of people were detained. Being undocumented is considered a civil offense, not a crime and these sweeps are wreaking havoc on Latino communities especially, disrupting life, creating chaos and separating families.  Additionally, one of Trump’s dozens of executive orders setup a 60-day window for top state, justice, intelligence, and homeland security officials to identify countries whose vetting and

Thursday, January 19, 2023 Bill called the “The Social Welfare Act” introduced in the senate Sponsored by Senators: Erika GEISS (D-1)Sylvia SANTANA (D-2)Stephanie CHANG (D-3)Dayna POLEHANKI (D-5)Mary CAVANAGH (D-6)Jeremy MOSS (D-7)Mallory MCMORROW (D-8)Paul WOJNO (D-10)Veronica KLINEFELT (D-11)Rosemary BAYER (D-13)Sue SHINK (D-14)Jeff IRWIN (D-15)Joseph BELLINO (R-16)Sean MCCANN (D-19)Sarah ANTHONY (D-21)Sam SINGH (D-28)John DAMOOSE (R-37) Thursday, January 19, 2023 Thursday, January 19, 2023 Bill referred The Bill was been referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Services. Thursday, January 19, 2023 Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Committee on Housing and Human Services The Committee on Housing and Human Services reported Senate Bill No. 35, entitled A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” by amending section 10d (MCL 400.10d), as added by 2012 PA 79. With the recommendation that the bill pass. The committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect. The bill was then referred to the Committee of the Whole, who reported favorably without amendment. The Committee recommended the bill be given immediate effect. Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Thursday, March 9, 2023 Bill Sent to the Senate Floor PASSED ROLL CALL # 51 YEAS 25 NAYS 13 EXCUSED 0 NOT VOTING 0 Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Small Business Thursday, March 9, 2023 Thursday, March 9, 2023 Testified before the Committee on Economic Development and Small Business Senator Jeff Irwin (D-15), ACCESS, ABISA, MLPP, American Heart Association Thursday, March 9, 2023 Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Bill Passed in the House Bill was passed with immediate effect in the House Roll Call # 172 Yeas 56 Nays 53 Excused 0 Not Voting 1. When the bill passed out of House Committee, a comprehensive SNAP toolkit was sent to all of the subgrantees to initiate a social media campaign. We used all social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The toolkit various posts and one pager translated into Arabic. We also created a Phone2Action that targeted all (100+) MI House members so that they would vote in favor of the bill. Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Bill Sent Back to the Senate Bill was sent back to Senate to vote on immediate effect, it was defeated. This means that the bill was not passed through bipartisan support and would not take immediate effect when it is signed by the governor. Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Thursday, July 6, 2023 Bill Presented to Governor Gretchen Whitmer Thursday, July 6, 2023 Tuesday, July 11, 2023 Bill Signed into Law Tuesday, July 11, 2023 Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Bill Filed with the Secretary of State Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Tuesday, November 19, 2023 End of Legislative Year The end of the Michigan 2023 legislative year, as both the Democratic-led House and Senate adjourned sine die at noon. Tuesday, November 19, 2023 Senate Bill 35 will go into effect on the 91st day after the Michigan Legislature adjourns its final session of 2023.

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