The #SendASign campaign continues the fight for refugees a year after the travel ban

It was one of the first and most striking examples of resistance against the Trump administration.

On Jan. 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order blocking refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. It furthered Trump's campaign promise of a "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

One day later, on Jan. 28, 2017, activists and members of faith and immigrant communities came out in droves to protest the ban at major airports, where affected travelers were being detained.

It was a powerful, visual show of solidarity and the widespread opposition to the executive order — crowds of demonstrators rallied outside of airports speaking out against the order while legal professionals and advocates set up camp within terminals to offer free legal help to detainees and their families.

But even though federal judges temporarily blocked the executive order later that weekend, the fight never stopped, as the ban has taken different forms over the past 12 months.

Now, a new social media campaign called #SendASign aims to recapture the momentum of support for refugees and immigrants that went viral one year ago.

SEE ALSO:Refugee mother shares family's journey to the U.S. in powerful animated video

Created by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a New York City-based legal aid organization that was among those helping detained travelers last year, the campaign's goal is to commemorate and continue 2017's inspiring response. It's a reminder to the public that vocal support, awareness, and action are still needed for refugees and others affected by discriminatory travel bans.

"We are hoping this campaign is a reminder of the power of the people."

"We are asking folks to 'send a sign' in memory of the people holding up signs at airports to support the detained travelers and offer legal advice," said Henrike Dessaules, communications director at IRAP.

With the hashtag #SendASign, participants can post messages on the official anniversary Saturday to show refugees and immigrants that they're welcome in the U.S., and to empower everyone from activists to everyday citizens to take tangible action.

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"We are hoping this campaign is a reminder of the power of the people, and a sign to the administration that we won't stop fighting this harmful ban," Dessaules said.

Numerous lawsuits, court rulings, and political battles have forced the so-called "Muslim ban" to go through two additional versions since January 2017. The third and current version of the travel ban blocks the entry of people from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. In October, a federal judge in Hawaii once again temporarily blocked the ban. The Supreme Court, however, just granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily allow the ban to take full effect before it hears the case of Trump v. Hawaii (likely in late April).

"This past year, the courts have ruled time and time again that the Muslim ban is unlawful," Dessaules said.

"Even though the travel ban is currently in effect, the successes in the courts have allowed thousands of people to be reunited with families during the periods the ban was blocked. Moreover, thousands of refugees were able to reach safety in the United States that would have otherwise been left in limbo," she added.

Dessaules cited the example of the Trump administration's latest restrictions on refugees, which effectively halted resettlement programs for refugees from 11 countries, were blocked by a federal judge just last month.

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As a result, the #SendASign campaign is not just about action, but also hope. And it can inspire Americans to make their voices heard on this specific issue, as well as related immigration issues like the DACA repeal and mass deportations by ICE.

This isn't the only campaign popping up on Twitter and Facebook around Saturday's anniversary, either. There's also #WhereRTheRefugees, created by Refugee Council USA, as well as the popular #NoMuslimBanEver, #StandWithRefugees, and #RefugeesWelcome hashtags.

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"We have seen this past year that when the people speak, their representatives listen," Dessaules said. "Social media is a great tool to draw attention to issues that might otherwise get overlooked."

But she's clear that social media alone will not be enough. Not much compares to direct constituent pressure, so you should call your representatives in Congress to let them know where you stand.

In the meantime, Dessaules also encourages everyone to make refugee communities in the U.S. feel welcome where they are.

"Make sure they know that they're part of the American fabric, regardless of what current government policies might suggest," she said.

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