After filing a friend-of-the-court brief last week in the federal district court in Seattle, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh today announced the Cities of Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston and 23 other cities and counties have again joined together to support another legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict travel to the United States from six majority-Muslim nations and to suspend the refugee program.

“Mayors from across the country are united in defense of American values and opposition to the Trump administration’s unconstitutional, discriminatory and un-American attempts to undercut the principles on which this great country was founded,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Chicago, like America, has long been a beacon of hope to immigrants, refugees, and dreamers of every nationality and faith. We will never retreat from our values or turn our back on those coming here in search of a better life.”

A total of 28 cities and counties are filing a friend-of-the-court (amicus) brief in support of the state of Hawaii and a doctor of Egyptian descent in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, where a judge last week issued a temporary restraining order. The amicus brief urges the court to convert the order issued last week into a preliminary injunction. That would extend the temporary relief the court there entered against the Executive Order’s 90-day ban on issuance of visas to people born in six targeted countries and the 120-day ban on refugees. This would provide greater relief than the order of a judge in Maryland in a similar case.

“New York, alongside cities across the country, is again standing strong against the un-American, exclusionary policies of President Trump,” said New York City Mayor de Blasio. “We are proud to embrace immigrant communities that are an essential part of our cities, where they help strengthen the local economy and contribute to civic life. This policy not only discriminates against immigrant communities, but also makes us all less safe by undermining trust with law enforcement and making immigrants more vulnerable to victimization. By targeting individuals from Muslim-majority nations, this order is also a refutation of our nation’s historic commitment to be a home of refuge for those fleeing violence. New York, in partnership with cities across America, will keep fighting misguided and dangerous policies that are an affront to our morals.”

"Mayors are standing up against these unconstitutional executive orders — because millions of people in our cities have risked everything to live in freedom and equality, while investing in America's future," said Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti. "Turning people away because of their faith or nationality is not only wrong, but it sends a fundamentally un-American message to our families, our communities, and the world."

“The revised travel ban offends the values that make Philadelphia a welcoming place for refugees fleeing persecution, and for immigrants seeking to start a new life,” said Philadelphia Mayor Kenney. “We are proud to join with Chicago and other U.S. cities and states in challenging it.”

"We know immigrants and their families play a vital role in our economy, culture and overall identity, and this travel ban goes against the very bedrock of our nation," said Boston Mayor Walsh. "The United States is rooted in the freedom to practice one's faith, and I am proud to stand with my fellow mayors as we continue to welcome people from all countries, regardless of their religion."

Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston, joined by Honolulu, Austin, Carrboro, Central Falls, Cook County, Gary, Iowa City, Ithaca, Jersey City, Madison, Minneapolis, Montgomery County (MD), Oakland, Portland, St. Louis, St. Paul, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Seattle, Skokie, South Bend, West Hollywood and Providence, presented the local government position to the district court. The brief explains the vital contribution that immigrants make to our cities and country, points out that classifications based on religion and natural origin are presumptively invalid, and argues that the travel ban is misguided and unconstitutional.

The executive order restricting immigration prohibits people from six countries—Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—from entering the U.S. for 90 days and halts the admission into the U.S. of people granted refugee status for 120 days while the Trump administration revises immigration screening procedures.

Today’s action follows similar action last week, in which Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and 21 other cities and counties filed an amicus brief in the federal district court in Seattle, where six States have challenged the President’s second attempt at restricting travel into the United States.

The City’s brief was prepared with the pro bono assistance of several attorneys of the law firm Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, which has offices in Chicago, New York and San Francisco.

“The City is grateful for Riley Safer’s contribution to our efforts to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees and to defend Chicago’s status as a city that embraces diversity and promotes inclusion,” said Corporation Counsel Ed Siskel.

The recent legal action is one of several actions the Emanuel Administration has taken since the November election to reiterate Chicago’s status as a welcoming City.

Among these, to provide legal assistance to vulnerable Chicago residents, the city created a Legal Protection Fund, pledging $1.3 million to the fund to integrate legal support from attorneys with community navigators rooted in Chicago's many ethnic communities to provide outreach, education and assistance to immigrant families across Chicago.

On December 7, Mayor Emanuel presented a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program until Congress modernizes the immigration system and provides a more permanent form of relief for the over one million young people who were brought to the U.S. before they were 16 and are eligible for the program.

Mayor Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Luis Gutierrez also launched a new “Chicago is With You” task force that is collaborating on mental health, legal services, employer communications, and education policies to ensure the City is delivering comprehensive services to immigrants, refugees and other disenfranchised communities.

Since taking office, Mayor Emanuel has launched a series of initiatives that improve the immigrant community’s access to services, expand new and existing immigrant businesses, and welcome and celebrate Chicago’s diverse immigrant communities. These initiatives include launching the Cities for Citizenship Campaign with the Mayors of New York City and Los Angeles, which has grown into a bipartisan effort which works with 30 City and county leaders across America.

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