(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/30/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed disagreement with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan and renewed its call for the government to address the student debt crisis by establishing interest-free student loans.
SEE: Student loan forgiveness before Supreme Court: What you need to know
This morning, the Supreme Court ruled that President Biden’s plan, which would have forgiven $10,000 in student loans for all who qualify and $20,000 for qualifying Pell grant recipient, exceeded his statutory authority.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision to block President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program despite his clear legal authority to alleviate the financial burden that interest-based loans have created for millions of Americans.
“President Biden and Congress should both work to pass legislation granting forgiveness to current borrowers and address the long-term problem of student debt by establishing interest-free loans for future borrowers.
“Interest-based student loans create an immoral and destructive cycle of debt that harms millions of Americans and forces some borrowers, including many Muslim students, to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs in order to pursue higher education.”
BACKGROUND:
In February 2022, a coalition of Muslim organizations called on President Biden to establish interest-free student loans and cancel a significant amount of existing student debt. In April, that coalition renewed its call following the extension of the moratorium on student loan payments.
- Forgiving loans for all borrowers whose past payments have already exceeded the principal amount of their original loan.
- Canceling at least $50,000 in student debt for all remaining borrowers.
- Waiving interest payments on all current and future loans.
- Extending the freeze on student loan payments until at least January 1, 2023.
Nearly one-third of all American students go into debt to pay for their college and Americans collectively owe nearly $1.6 trillion in student loan debt. That number is projected to grow to $2 trillion by 2024 and $3 trillion by 2038.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com