We begin today with a conversation about the travel ban implemented by President Trump on Friday afternoon. The President blocked visitors from seven predominately Muslim countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The initial ban even included those who hold green cards. After a night and day of chaotic events at airports around the world, those holding green cards were allowed to re-enter the US.
The order also treats refugees harshly. There is a 120 day ban on refugees from anywhere in the world, and an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria, even those who have been in a years-long vetting process, and who have sponsors in the United States waiting to take them in. In his executive order, the President proclaimed that, “the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States.” Dr. Niloofar Haeri is a scholar and the director of the Program in Islamic Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She joins Tom to talk about what the ban means. Rachel Baye is WYPR's Statehouse reporter. She joins to talk about weekend protests against the ban at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Then, a look at Maryland’s cash bail system. Back in October, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh sent a letter to the House of Delegates telling them that the state must consider a defendant's financial situation before setting bail, calling the system “likely unconstitutional.”
Some Maryland lawmakers are advocating for cash bail alternatives while others want to do away with the system all together. WYPR Statehouse reporter Rachel Baye is joined by Doug Colbert, law professor at The University of Maryland Fracis King Carey School of Law, to talk about bail reform in Maryland.
Professor Colbert also talks about a program developed by UMD Law’s Access to Justice Clinic in conjunction with Baltimore City Office of the Public Defender, State’s Attorney’s Office and the Police Department that gives a second chance to people with active failure to appear warrants.
Baltimore City's Failure To Appear 2nd Chance program ends tomorrow, Jan. 31. For more information about the program click here.
