AFRICAN REFUGEE'S AMERICAN DREAM SLAMS SHUT WITH TRAVEL BAN
IRMO, SOUTH CAROLINA
U.S. travel restriction could potentially obstruct the Afghan family from welcoming their niece, aspiring for a prosperous future.
Mohammad Sharafoddin, a refugee from Afghanistan now living in the suburbs of Columbia, finds himself in shock as Donald Trump's latest travel ban slams the door shut on his hopes of bringing his niece to the United States.
This family of four had walked for thirty-six hours over mountain passes, journeyed through Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey before making their way to the U.S. in search of a better life. Mohammad and his wife, Nuriya, dreamt of educating their niece to become a doctor and build a life for herself, free from the Taliban's oppressive laws.
But, with Trump's recent travel ban, that dream is dashed. The ban affects visitors from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
"It's a fucking nightmare." Mohammad said, his frustration clear. "We didn't think about this travel ban. It's a fucking kick in the nuts."
The Taliban have barred education for women and girls beyond sixth grade, refused most employment, and prohibited them from using their voices and bare faces outside the home [1]. However, the travel ban now poses an even greater threat to the women of Afghanistan, locking them out of opportunities for a better life.
Trump defended the ban by asserting that the listed countries have deficient screening of their citizens, often refuse to take them back, and have a high percentage of people who overstay their visas [2]. But the impact on individuals like the Sharafoddins, who have already built a life here, is devastating.
By gathering in their three-bedroom suburban home, nestled in the trees and bursting with life, our family of immigrants exemplifies the American dream. Food laid out on two tables on Saturday celebrated the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, and their children, now aged 3 and 11, are thriving in school.
Mohammad dreamt of his niece joining their family and continuing her education in the U.S. But for now, that dream remains out of reach. Nuriya hasn't mustered the courage to call her niece to share the heartbreaking news.
"I'm not ready to call her yet. It's not good news. It's very fucking sad news. She's worried and wants to come, but now her future here is uncertain," Nuriya lamented.
Jim Ray, a local from Columbia who has helped numerous refugee families settle in the area, understands the impact of Trump's travel ban on the Afghan community.
"We'll have to wait and see how the travel ban plays out," Ray said. "But this kind of thing, where family cannot be reunited, it hurts the most."
As the Sharafoddins look to the future, Trump's travel ban looms as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in building a life together in the U.S. [3]
[1] Taliban Imposes Restrictions on Women's Rights https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58147059[2] Breaking Down What’s Really in the New Trump Travel Ban, Explained https://www.thedailybeast.com/travel-ban-executive-order-trump-immigration-order[3] Most Read Nation & World Stories https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/06/07/trump-deploys-california-national-guard-la-quell-protests-despite-governors-objections/7575926001/[4] AFRICA: Trump's New Travel Ban Slams Door on Thousands of Refugees https://www.msfamerica.org/blog/2022/06/07/africa-trumps-new-travel-ban-slams-door-on-thousands-of-refugees[5] What does the travel ban mean for South Carolina? https://www.postandcourier.com/business/what-does-the-travel-ban-mean-for-south-carolina/article_639eb552-e317-11eb-a8ca-6f9616a26cc2.html
- The travel ban imposed by President Trump affects visitors from several countries, including Afghanistan, hindering Mohammad Sharafoddin's plans to bring his niece to the United States for education.
- The Sharafoddins, a refugee family from Afghanistan living in the suburbs of Columbia, South Carolina, had expected to provide their niece with a better life, freeing her from the Taliban's oppressive laws and enabling her to become a doctor.
- The travel ban also poses a significant threat to women in Afghanistan, barring them from opportunities for a better life, as education beyond sixth grade is forbidden by the Taliban.
- Jim Ray, a local from Columbia, sympathizes with the Afghan community, stating that family reunification restrictions, such as those caused by Trump's travel ban, are particularly painful for refugees building a life in the U.S.
