WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal welcomed the decisions by U.S. District Court Judges Derrick Watson of Hawaii and Theodore D. Chuang of Maryland to temporarily block the Trump administration’s Muslim Ban 3.0 from taking effect.

“The third defeat of Trump’s unconstitutional Muslim ban is a crucial victory for millions across the country. I’m glad to see Judges Watson and Chuang block this state-sanctioned hate, but our fight for justice continues. These Muslim bans underline Trump’s hardheaded crusade for xenophobic policies that demonize, otherize and vilify millions of people”, she said.

“From border walls, increased detention and a rampant deportation force; to white nationalist dog whistles; and direct threats to Dreamers across this nation, Trump’s racist agenda still looms large. We have more work to do. There are vigilant, smart people in red and blue states alike who are unafraid to speak truth to power and stand up for what is right. We must continue pushing back against all of Trump’s illegitimate, ill-conceived platforms. It is our duty to stand up to hate and we will continue to win when justice is on our side”, she further added.

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) also praised the decision. “SAALT applauds the decisions by Judge Derrick Watson of Hawaii and Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland to block this administration’s latest attempt at a Muslim Ban. The highest ideals of our country are rooted in the freedom to exist without fear of government persecution. Between the two orders, the courts have proclaimed that the administration overstepped its authority in issuing a ban that ‘plainly discriminates based on nationality’ contrary to the ‘founding principles of this Nation’ and that the President’s own words on the campaign trail and on social media demonstrate this ban was explicitly intended to target Muslims”, Suman Raghunathan, Executive Director of SAALT said in a statement.