Trump's Travel Ban Sparks Concerns Among Refugee Families in Arizona

The Brief

Supporters of refugees in Arizona are voicing their opposition to President Donald Trump’s recently implemented travel restrictions.
According to the Associated Press, the restriction encompasses individuals from several nations, such as Afghanistan.
One advocate stated, ‘The outcome is sheer chaos and destruction.’

PHOENIX

–

Advocates for refugees are voicing their opposition to the policies of the Trump administration concerning refugee issues.

updated travel restrictions targeting 12 nations

, indicating that some diligent families will now have to delay being brought together.

The backstory

As reported by the Associated Press, President Donald Trump’s travel ban encompasses citizens from these nations:

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

This directive introduces stricter limitations for individuals originating from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, as well as those from Venezuela currently not residing within the U.S. without a valid visa. However, certain exceptions apply under this restriction, such as an assessment based on whether their presence serves the national interests of the United States.

Although the restriction does not cancel out existing visas, several people who are merely a single step away from boarding a plane to join their loved ones are now prohibited from entering the U.S., and supporters argue this goes against pledges the government made long ago.

What Advocates Are Saying

“Chaos and destruction follow,” stated Julianna Larsen, CEO at the Arizona Refugee Center.

At the Arizona Refugee Center, over 80 families involved with the Operation Allies Welcome initiative have successfully resettled in the state known as the Grand Canyon State. However, the recently implemented Trump travel restrictions are now impacting additional families within this group.

“Over 20,000 men and women who helped the United States military in Afghanistan had to flee without their families, their immediate family members, their wives, their husbands and their children, and they are now barred from being reunited,” Larsen said.

This encompasses a household where the father, Abdul, arrived here in 2021 at the beginning of the OAW resettlement initiative. The majority of his family has since joined him, including several daughters who will soon be attending school for the very first time.

“I’m looking forward to them beginning school and pursuing their education as they carve out their future in a new country,” Larsen stated.

The oldest son in the family remains abroad since his visa is undergoing administrative processing.

If you’re an Afghan man aged 14 or older right now, they immediately subject you to administrative processing,” stated Larsen. “This practice has occurred during the past five months under the current administration. As things stand, this individual will be prohibited from entering for at least the upcoming four years, regardless of whether—and I am confident it will happen—his visa gets approved; he won’t be permitted to reunite with his family.

The Trump administration asserts that the travel ban aims to safeguard national security as part of intensified immigration enforcement measures. However, Larsen argues that this reasoning is misguided.

I think this move will undermine our national security,” Larsen stated. “We entered Afghanistan more than two decades ago, requested assistance from locals in combating terrorism, and gave assurances at that time.

Larsen states that the special immigrant visas which might be permitted are part of a distinct procedure, compelling individuals to begin anew.