In a 5-4 landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the president has the authority to ban travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries if he thinks that it is necessary to protect the country, overturning lower court decisions that had struck down three versions of the so-called travel ban. ANA had joined an amicus brief filed by the Association of American Medical Colleges and more than 30 other organizations, representing a wide range of health care professions urging the Supreme Court to reinstate the nationwide injunction against the Trump Administration Proclamation 9645 that indefinitely bars individuals from entering the United States on the basis of their nationality.
The following statement is attributable to Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
“The American Nurses Association (ANA) is very disappointed that that Supreme Court did not maintain the injunction against the travel ban. Nursing is committed to the welfare of the sick, injured, and vulnerable in society and to social justice. The Code of Ethics for Nurses calls on all nurses to always preserve the human rights of vulnerable groups such as children, women and refugees, and to advocate for the protection of social justice to guard against unfair targeting of religious groups. Any actions that are intended to increase the safety of our country must be clearly defined and not jeopardize human rights.
Additionally, the travel ban may halt the entry of highly sought after experts who would contribute valuable services within the United States. As such the ban fails to acknowledge that the American healthcare workforce is part of an integrated international community; professionals in the U.S. and beyond our shores collaborate to address critical healthcare issues and provide quality care rooted in research, discovery, and innovation that cuts across borders. A failure to recognize the invaluable contributions of top minds in health care around the globe threatens the nation’s health security and creates unnecessary barriers to care for vulnerable populations and millions of Americans.
ANA remains committed to raising our voices in the name of social justice and for the welfare of the sick, injured, and vulnerable in society.”