After President Donald Trump announced a travel ban affecting 12 countries, residents of the Bay Area with family in those nations voiced their worries. Mhret Weldabzghi, an Eritrean native, expressed her concerns about the implications of the restrictions for her loved ones back home.
“We have a large community that works hard and follows the rules. What justifies restricting them?” Weldabzghi questioned.
She is among over 10,000 Eritreans residing in the Bay Area, with many settling in Oakland. Weldabzghi fears that the ban will hinder her ability to visit her family.
“It’s detrimental to families,” she stated. “Not being able to see my dad would affect me deeply. I believe that every Eritrean, and indeed every human being, should have the right to reunite with their family.”
The new restrictions mainly affect countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with additional impacts on Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, and others. Furthermore, seven additional countries are now subject to partial travel restrictions.
Katerina Linos, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, expressed concern that these changes will have a significant effect on the future leaders of the country.
“International students enhance everyone's experience, and this is an attack on all of us,” Linos stated. The Trump Administration claims that some countries were chosen based on their visa overstay rates and insufficient vetting processes. Linos noted that international students, even those not directly affected by the restrictions, are altering their summer plans and contemplating job opportunities outside the U.S. after graduation due to the uncertainty. “We are a nation that has historically welcomed and benefited from immigrants and new ideas,” Linos remarked. “I believe many individuals with options will consider other destinations that seem more appealing in light of this uncertainty.”
