Civil rights groups sue US State Department over travel ban

Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the US State Department for not processing the visa applications of Iranian and Yemeni citizens who won the chance to immigrate to the US.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the National Immigration Law Center filed the lawsuit on Friday in the US District Court in Washington DC, on behalf of Iranians and Yemenis who won in the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the green card lottery.

More than 90 Iranian and Yemeni lottery winners said the US government was refusing to issue their visas after President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban was reinstated by the US Supreme Court, which prevents the entry of people from six predominantly Muslim nations.

“This isn’t right, fair, or lawful, and we are willing to do what it takes — including going to court — to fight for the rights of our clients,” said Esther Sung, an…

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