New York, NY—Today, the Trump administration announced an immediate travel ban barring people from 12 countries from entering the United States. People from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are banned from entering the U.S., while those from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face restrictions. This latest move is an escalation from Trump’s first term travel ban, which primarily targeted Muslim-majority countries.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The American dream is the quintessential American value. With the return of a super-charged Muslim and African Ban, and the racist exclusion of certain people from the ability to seek safety and refuge, Donald Trump and his enablers are attacking the very concept of America itself. When our country first experienced the Muslim Ban in 2017, the American people rejected it. We fought back, and we won. The xenophobic fanatics controlling the federal government now believe they have a mandate for hate and cruelty. But as immigrant communities face attack after attack from the Trump administration, we will continue to fight back. History will look back at this moment as one of the darkest in American history, but we know that light will ultimately prevail. Our elected officials – in city halls, statehouses, and Congress – must act now to preserve the ideals that actually make this country great. Together, we must make sure that our country does not devolve past the point of no return.”