The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation titled the "No Ban Act," which limits the president's extensive authority over immigration and would prevent any order based on religion. The bill was approved by a vote of 218 to 208, and must be approved by the U.S. Congress to become law.
The House also voted, along party lines, by a majority of 217 to 207, on a related measure that requires allowing some immigrants access to legal counsel when detained at entry points, such as airports.
Republicans opposed both bills, arguing for the need to tighten immigration controls rather than loosen them. The bills face an uncertain future in the evenly divided Senate, where a backlog of immigration-related legislation passed by the House may encounter significant obstacles.
However, Democrats stated that they are sending a clear message that America cannot return to the days of former President Donald Trump, who called during his presidential campaign for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States," and then worked to implement it once in office.
In January 2017, Trump banned the entry of citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, later amending and expanding the ban to include some non-majority Muslim countries like North Korea. However, newly elected President Joe Biden revoked the order just hours after taking office.
