The U.S immigration ban on six major Islamic countries to enter the United States is sending a spell of uncertainty for many on- U.S citizens, particularly from the banned countries. Sadaf, an Iranian student studying fashion and design is reconsidering her stay and the course of her education in the United States due to her fears that she may not be able to visit her family back home. Since the Trump’s Immigration ban, a student like Sadaf has to serious reassess their future and the possibility of successfully finishing their education and championing their career path in the United States.
Sadaf dream, just like many of us, coming to the United States and pursuing a career has been a lifelong goal; meet different people, cultures, and reconnecting with people of different background. I first met Sadaf at the University of San Francisco where we immediately become friends perhaps due to our shared interest in the reason for studying in the United States. I always hoped that schooling in the U.S would meet my wildest dreams of meeting with people from different backgrounds and connect with a wide range of people from various professions, personalities, and social lives (Roberts 1).Conversely, the president of the United States has decided to kill such ambitious dreams that people like Sadaf and me share the determination of keeping people from Muslim countries from entering the United States. This kind of Prejudice seems so Un-America.
Shortly after taking office, the U.S president Donald Trump issued an executive order banning all refugees from entering the United States and immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries for 120 days. A moment after this ban people and mostly those who had valid visas took to the street together with other oppose of the Trump order. As a result, some people were detained while others were returned to their home countries. Even those who were on board traveling could not be able to get to the United States. The order followed a large number of lawsuits and cases and a day later; a federal judge blocked the order temporary and partially.
The Trump executive did not seem anything like the U.S policy of tolerance, placing the value in people’s diversity and welcoming people from all over the world. Many people protested to this Trump executive order storming the airports and taking to the street due to their discontentment and disagreement with the restriction. In the same way, many world leaders called Trump and reminded him of the United Sates commitment to the Geneva Convention and the duty of the U.S as a country in protecting refugees. Other countries like Canada open its door to welcoming the Refigures and many people who had been rejected in the United States. Despite such calls, the Trump administration has been committed to ensuring the executive become law in every way.
Since Sadaf came to the United States 2 and a half years ago, her dreams have been to finish her course and education in the U.S and go back to her home country where she had started a career in fashion industry. Sadaf left an incredible career at home with the hope to better her skills with the education from the United States, but now with the Trump ban, she may not frequently visit her client back at home. What is more worrying that her family cannot visit her in the United States? Worse still, if she decides to visit them at home, her she has fears that the ban, may not allow her to come back to the United States. This ban is leaving both her family and client devastated that she may not seem them unless she terminates her education in the United States. Ideally, Sadaf feels violated, disrespected and disvalued in every manner.
The temporary block of the ban by a panel of judges has given Sadaf more hopes. With the January 27 block and the March 6 court restriction has shuttered the government effort in enacting the policy. It raises a wide range of constitutional problems that cannot allow the government to act on her decision (Roberts 1). This ban on Muslim spark from the Trump presidential campaign where he promised to put a halt to Muslim immigration to the United States the first day he takes office. As he stated in his campaigns, Trump promised to a “complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”(Davidson 1)
Although the federal court order in the United States on the immigration is a quite serious thing, it is not evidenced that there is good will to support it or even revoke the trumping rule. In other words, although it represents the principle and laws, if the American culture does no support it doomed to collapse (Davidson 1). Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump was so outspoken on his purported support for the ban of Muslim in entering the United States, if his promises are to go by, and he has obviously shown he meant everything he said, people from Muslim-majority countries like Iran have everything to worry about.
The Trump ban affects not only the people of other countries but also the U.S citizen as well. Being the National Leader, whatever Trump says or do is seen to represent the interest and desires of the nation. Being from Iran were over two third of the people seeking U.S visas comes from, Sadaf takes the immigration ban personal (Davidson 1). She expresses her disappointment and discontentment that even in the 21st century where people are expected to be more civilized and tolerant, she is still be judged based on the origin of her country and her religion. For a student like her, the issues are baffling and disappointing considering the fact that they though there are in the most tolerant country where life should be perceived through different views and lens of different backgrounds.
For Sadaf and many others who would have wanted to live in the U.S, the ban just poured cold water on their dreams. Although most of her family member lives in Iran, her dreams and that of her family are that one day, they would also step in the U.S and probably stay in this beautiful country. However, her realization that she may not be wanted here devastates her spirits and desire to ever setter in the United States. Although the travel ban may eventually be canceled, the president of the United States just began his presidency. There is no guarantee that this issue may not be raised in future (Criss 1). Sadaf hopes for better future are therefore dangerously hanging on the loose. What is even worrying more is that hatred that may be fueled against her in case such issues rise again. Her expectation is that America, being a country of liberty and recognition of the diversity of people, should not go in that direction. Sadaf feels that she may need to reassess her goals and vision to evaluate whether she will continue in a country where she is not valued and respected or take a new turn and look for somewhere where everyone is respected regardless of the country of origin or one’s religion.
Apart from those with the dream of ever settling in the United States, the immigration ban stirred confusion problems in almost every sector of the economy. One Ph.D. student like Sadaf, who had traveled to her neighboring country in Afghanistan to continue with her research study, cannot now come back to the United States due to the travel ban (Criss 1). Although the language of the immigration bans not certain, such a student expressed fear of not finishing her research studied and also her defense. Another Iran -origin journalist explained his fear of how the ban has created a wall between his career and his family. Being from the Muslim country, the media personality cannot return home rest he loses his job.
Another Iranian lecturer based in the US but with a permanent visa to Canada fear the worst. His job just like other workers from Muslim country will prevent him from meeting family due to the effects of the ban. Apart from meeting his wife and family, his career too is in jeopardy. The uncertainty surrounding the immigration may affect his career at Yale University. Such and others like Sadaf represent many who feel the intensity of the immigration ban haunting them in every area.
Although it is not, clear whether the presidential ban will be lifted bearing in mind the case is still in the judicial system; one could not still wonder whether the trump adm9nstrion will still uphold the rule of law. Recent judicial directives have ordered the federal government to revoke the earlier ban on Muslim immigration and put it in a more tolerable, legally sound and less offense way. However, regardless of such ruling, most affected people, the first ruling forever changed especially students like Sadaf, and it may be hard to turn back their morale and perception of the United States (Davidson 1). Most of them feel that the most powerful and influential person in the world has spoken against Muslim, which, they take personally. Besides, as a national leader, Trump declaration, and confession that Muslim migration is a problem that he intends to finish, represents the interest and values of the people of the United States. Although there have been no actions or pointers of discrimination, hatred or violence toward her, it is hard for Sadaf to ignore the devastating, powerful message from the President of the United States.
Apart from the court or the judicial system, some states including Hawaii, Oregon, Minnesota and New York Massachusetts and Washington have filed lawsuits against the Trump ban arguing it violates the right and freedom of people. Such actions and numerous others from the American people who take into the street to protest may give and provide new hope to people like Sadaf or her colleagues. In fact, Sadaf claims that the people around her a wonderful and sensible and do not seem to be represented by the presidential declaration. It would be interesting to see whether other states will join the protest against this presidential enactment that is meant to have the opinion of the world and especially those of Muslims as prejudice and bigotry.
Although the immigration ban may finally be brought to a halt, what is more keenly important is displaying a country and a nation that is pro-diversity and one that respects the different backgrounds people. The United Nations must represent itself as the nation that respects the diversity of people, is pro-humanity and support the freedom of expression and movement (Roberts 1). Much effort is required in turning the perception of people such as Sadaf and others that United Nation is a liberal country founded on the principle of freedom and right to movement. Sadly, Sadaf feels like a person on the verge of losing that hope in the United States. The devastating message and the idea that the U.S may not want her, require much intervention. It is devastating to reckon that the Trump administration does not seem to have a good will and the intention to change this perception.
What most people believe is that the Trump executive order has refueled the resentfulness that most Muslims and other Arab people have against U.S policies and American Culture. Instead of bridging the gap between the Muslim and the American perceptions of the world and policies, Trump administration has widened the gap even more (Roberts 1). It is not surprising that survey and recent finding indicates a widespread resentment among Arabs and other Muslim counterparts against American culture and policies. Although people like Sadaf may not feel necessary harbor resentment and hatred toward American people and the American culture, her ambitions and hopes of a civilize America just got diluted by the travel ban. As she explains, it is hard to believe that even in the 21st century, people should still be judged based on the country they come from or even least their religion.
If the idea of immigration ban continue or even the Trump admiration do not give up on the quest for enacting the rule, more and more people will continually develop negative attitudes toward the America and probably the American people. The idea that the United States is the hallmark of liberation may slowly fade away and be replaced by a biased, selfish and stereotypic nation. The American people and the national leader has to stand up and restore the confidence not just for the minority group like Sadaf and other students but also to the face of the globe.
- Criss, Doug. “Trump Travel Ban: Here’s What You Need to Know.” 30 January 2017. CNN.com. Web. 12 May 2017.
- Davidson, Amy. “Judge Doubts Trump’s Travel-Ban Motives.” 9 May 2017. The New Yorker. Web. 12 May 2017.
- Roberts, Rachel. “Judge Orders Trump Team to Hand over Fresh Travel Ban Drafted by Rudy Giuliani.” 12 May 2017 . Independent.co.uk . Web. 12 May 2017.
