For immediate release: March 17, 2017
Contact: [email protected]  |  @citiesforaction

 CITIES FOR ACTION SHARES LESSONS LEARNED FROM FIRST TRAVEL BAN

Over the past 24 hours, two federal judges have blocked major pieces of the President’s second travel ban from taking effect today. For now, this will allow the refugee program to continue and prevent the unjust detention of travelers from the six Muslim-majority nations targeted by President Trump's Executive Order.

Cities for Action will continue to monitor the litigation and prepare city governments in developing robust rapid response plans in the case those measures are needed. Today, Cities for Action released a case study analysis on cities’ responses to the impact of the President’s Executive Order that enacted the first travel ban in January 2017. The report highlights responses at airports in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia and outlines lessons learned from these cases for future rapid response efforts. Here are our lessons learned:

1. Protestors, advocates and families across the country brought widespread attention to the ban.

2. Customs officials had to wait for instructions from D.C., so detainees’ families received little information.

3. Local officials helped families and their attorneys get more clarity from the federal government.

4. Advocates and officials on social media spread information about the detainees at airports across the country.”

Click here to read the full report.

Created in 2014, Cities for Action is a coalition of 150 mayors and county executives working for stronger and safer cities through immigrant inclusive policies and programs. Cities for Action members are committed to driving the national debate on immigration policies and integrating immigrants through best practices at the municipal level.

For more information on the actions cities are taking, visit www.citiesforaction.us

###