Here’s another round-up of what we’ve been reading and watching this week, from the news and around the web:

This week, federal courts dealt another blow to President Donald Trump’s attempt to ban travel from several Muslim-majority nations and halt the country’s refugee program. In separate decisions in Hawaii and Maryland, judges issued nationwide temporary restraining orders against the revised executive order, concluding that the statements of the president and his advisors reveal that his intent was to discriminate against Muslims.

In a Human Rights First press release, Veterans for American Ideals founder Scott Cooper said the ruling “is a signal that America is staying true to its values” and that “America needed to send a signal to our allies that this is a country based on the rule of law, this ruling did just that.” Read VFAI’s statement opposing the revised executive order here.

While the temporary restraining order against the executive order is heartening, our veterans are fighting to ensure that the harmful policy is never implemented. On Thursday, VFAI leader Joe Jenkins joined Congressman Luis Gutierrez, religious leaders, advocates, and refugees at a press conference decrying the executive order.

“This executive order, even in its revised form, unfairly targets those of Muslim faith. In its short-sightedness, this policy only reinforces the narrative of our enemies, who would have the world believe that the United States is at war with Islam. We must not give truth to their lies—and we must work with our Muslim brothers and sisters across the world to defeat extremism,” said Jenkins.

This week we’re also invigorated by progress on the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program. In response to the shortfall of visas for the Afghan interpreters and translators who served alongside the U.S. military, a bipartisan team of legislators in both the Senate and the House introduced legislation that would amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to include an addition 2,500 visas.

Now we’re calling on all veterans to contact their elected representatives to urge support for these vital amendments. Find out how you can quickly and effectively take action now.

VFAI members Colin Raunig, Travis Weiner, and Dan Zarnowski are among the first to call for a full and swift reinstatement of the Afghan SIV program. Writing in The Hill, the veteran trio explain why this issue is personal for them and urge members of Congress in their own districts and elsewhere to support the SIV program. They also praise Senators Jeanne Shaheen and John McCain for taking up their cause on behalf of concerned veterans everywhere.

“We can be a civilizing, unifying voice in our country. We are not props. We are people with the passion and the power and the reach to ensure that our service to our nation meant something then and means something now,” write Rauning, Weiner, and Zarnowski.

“Work with us and we will work for you. We will not quit.”

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can get involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at [email protected]