The Trump administration鈥檚 travel ban on 12 countries that went into effect Monday has North Texas immigrant groups wondering how it will affect the future of their communities.
Included in the ban are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya Somalia, Sudan, Yemen. There are partial bans on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Arrash Pirasteh, is the former president of the Iranian American Chamber of Commerce in Dallas. He said the travel ban is already impacting community members.
He said one person鈥檚 niece in Iran was accepted into a fully funded PhD program at a local university, 鈥渁 dream opportunity that would have offered her a better life away from the struggles of the Iranian regime.鈥�
鈥淪he was literally just one step away,鈥� Pirasteh said. 鈥淭ragically, her timing coincides with the travel ban for students and the Trump administration halted the issuance of their visa,.鈥�
He called the travel ban 鈥渓ife altering鈥� for many.
鈥淣ow there's no telling if and when she'll ever be able to come,鈥� he said.
During his campaign, Trump promised to restore the travel ban from his first term in office. Last Thursday he said the restrictions 鈥渃an鈥檛 come soon enough.鈥�
The ban targets countries the administration says lack .
鈥淣ationals of some countries also pose significant risks of overstaying their visas in the United States, which increases burdens on immigration and law enforcement components of the United States, and often exacerbates other risks related to national security and public safety,鈥� the proclamation states.
The partial ban is 鈥渕aking things tougher and tougher鈥� for Burundians here and abroad, said Ndayishimiye Innocent, president of the Dallas Burundian Community.
The proclamation suspends visitor and student visas for Burundi nationals, citing the overstay rate, as well as immigration.
Innocent, who came to the U.S. years ago as a refugee, said when he heard the news about the travel ban, he thought of not just families living in the U.S. but also in his native country.
He said Burundian relatives often visit North Texas for significant events like funerals, weddings and graduations. He was able to bring his own family over for his grandfather鈥檚 funeral in 2018 鈥� but wonders how the travel restrictions will keep visitors from his country from these milestone events.
鈥淵ou can't have those relatives coming to give the last farewells to the beloved ones,鈥� he said.
鈥淸It] affects people mentally and psychologically, those who are remaining.鈥�
Priscilla Rice is 四虎影院鈥檚 communities reporter. Got a tip? Email her at price@kera.org.
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