Yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled to uphold the travel ban, restricting people’s ability to travel to the US from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia and Yemen.
We at Airbnb have always believed that the place you call home should not determine if you get to explore the world beyond your doorstep. The travel ban is a policy that goes against our mission and values – to restrict travel based on a person’s nationality or religion is fundamentally wrong. Travel is transformational and allows us to see the possibilities in the world. It is the gateway to becoming anything we want. It is a step towards acceptance and understanding. To restrict travel is to limit human potential.
That is why Airbnb co-founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk have spoken out against the Supreme Court’s decision, saying:
Travel ban was wrong from the beginning. Still wrong today. pic.twitter.com/RY3GI8qBd6
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) June 26, 2018
While this news is dispiriting, it is not the end of the fight. There is more work to be done, led by incredible organizations that are working to help those who have been impacted. Last year, after the travel ban was first announced, we partnered with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), which worked to support the release of those who were unlawfully detained upon arrival to the US. In response to today’s news, IRAP will continue to advocate for systemic change and legal pathways to safety for refugees, displaced people, and other vulnerable individuals affected by the US travel ban.
IRAP is on the front lines of this fight, working around the clock to fight for legal solutions and protect the rights of thousands of affected individuals worldwide. To help them with these efforts, we will be matching donations to IRAP up to a total of $150,000 USD through September 30, 2018. If you would like to join us in supporting IRAP, you can donate here.
We will continue to work with IRAP and other organizations to ensure that travel is open for all. And we’re grateful to our community for continuing to open their doors. Because a world without travel, one where we build walls to keep others out and ourselves in, is a world without innovation, exploration or adventure. It’s a world that stands still. Let’s live in a world that allows us to experience and embrace the unknown. Let’s keep traveling forward.