Trump's New Travel Ban NYC's Immigrant Communities Sound the Alarm

New York Reels: Reactions to President Trump's Revived Travel Ban

A wave of concern and anxiety has swept through New York's diverse immigrant communities following the announcement of President Donald Trump's latest travel ban. The restrictions, slated to take effect this Monday, target citizens from **12 countries**, sparking outrage and confusion among those with ties to the affected nations.

The new ban primarily impacts travelers from:

• Haiti
• Iran
• Yemen
• Afghanistan
• Myanmar
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Chad
• Republic of Congo
• Sudan
• Somalia
• Libya

Citizens of these nations will face significant limitations on entering the United States, with limited exceptions. Furthermore, individuals from seven additional countries, including Venezuela and Cuba, will encounter restrictions on student and tourist visas, hindering their ability to secure permanent residency in the U.S.

President Trump defended the ban as a necessary measure for national security, asserting in a video statement that **"nothing will stop us from keeping America safe."**

New York City, home to a vibrant tapestry of immigrant cultures, is poised to feel the repercussions deeply. The **Haitian community, numbering nearly 117,000** according to 2020 census data, represents the largest population directly affected. Significant concerns also resonate within the Yemeni, Iranian, and Afghan communities, each numbering below 20,000.

Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, condemned the ban as **"the racist exclusion of certain people."**

"It's not only cruel, it's a calculated assault on immigrants and our communities who continue to be scapegoated by this administration,” Awawdeh stated. “This ban is designed to spread fear and division in our communities."

The announcement has stirred memories of the initial travel ban implemented in 2017. While courts initially blocked the measure, which targeted immigrants from five predominantly Muslim countries, Venezuela, and North Korea, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the restrictions in 2018.

Rana Abdelhamid, Executive Director of Malikah, a Queens-based anti-violence organization serving North African New Yorkers, noted that many community members had already been anticipating such a ban.

"So [they] have been dealing with extended family separation and not being able to like connect with their loved ones," Abdelhamid explained, emphasizing the anxiety and uncertainty faced by asylum seekers from Sudan and Chad.

Debbie Almontaser, co-founder of the Yemeni American Merchants Association, expressed her belief that the ban is **"clearly rooted in a desire to exclude Muslims and countless other Black and brown communities."** She recounted the immediate concerns voiced by community members regarding the status of their relatives abroad.

Stephen Yale-Loehr, retired professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School, pointed out the ban's "carveouts," noting that international athletes and current permanent residents would be exempt. However, he cautioned that other individuals from the listed countries would likely be barred from entry.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, anticipates that the ban will withstand legal challenges, citing the inclusion of multiple factors in determining a country's inclusion on the list. This, he believes, will mitigate claims of religious bias.

Elsie Saint Louis, Executive Director of Haitian Americans United for Progress, vehemently rejected the executive order's claim of "hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens" flooding the U.S., emphasizing the legality of the existing parole program.

“This travel ban, it's just one more blow to our community,” Saint Louis lamented.

As the new travel ban looms, New York's immigrant communities brace themselves for the challenges ahead. The coming days will undoubtedly be filled with uncertainty and activism, as individuals and organizations mobilize to protect the rights and futures of those affected. While legal battles are anticipated, the human cost of such policies remains a paramount concern, underscoring the need for compassion and understanding in these "frightening times."

Tags: Trump travel ban,immigrant communities,US travel restrictions,national security,Haitian community,visa denials,banned countries,travel ban,immigration,US immigration

Source: https://gothamist.com/news/we-live-in-frightening-times-nyers-react-to-president-trumps-new-travel-ban