Ohio immigrant advocates blast Trump travel ban
As protesters clash with law enforcement in Los Angeles over one aspect of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, advocates are slamming another in Ohio — a travel ban for people from 12 countries that took effect last Monday.
The ban, announced the previous Wednesday, is so sweeping that Lynn Tramonte of Ohio Immigrant Alliance labeled it “the new Muslim and African ban.”
“This is racism by presidential decree,” she said in a written statement. “The new Muslim and African ban is here, with a Caribbean and Asian annex.”
Trump’s order attempts to “fully restrict and limit the entry of nationals of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.”
In addition, it “partially” restricts the entry of people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. But that’s a distinction without a difference, Tramonte said.
Trump’s executive order says of immigration from those places, “consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals… to the extent permitted by law.”
That’s “a ‘partial’ ban that is just as extensive” as the complete bans, Tramonte said.
In Ohio, Trump and some Republicans have a problematic history when it comes to the state’s sizable Haitian population. Last summer, Trump, now-Vice President J.D. Vance and some state Republicans amplified the racist lie that Haitians in Springfield were stealing their neighbors’ pets and eating them.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, however, defended that community and criticized those who were baselessly attacking it.
Before last week’s ban, leaders of Ohio’s Haitian community said people were terrified because the lies about them made them a target — and because Trump canceled the temporary protected status of 500,000 Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
All face difficult conditions in their home countries, but the situation in Haiti is particularly dire. Its last elected president was assassinated four years ago and the country has since fallen into chaos and gang violence.
On Monday, the New York Times reported on another way Trump’s latest order stands to harm Haitians.
Brad Mertens Joseph, age 6, was to travel from Haiti to Akron Children’s Hospital for a heart surgery he needs to live past 30. Because of Trump’s travel ban, it was abruptly canceled along with medical procedures for hundreds of other Haitian children with serious medical conditions, the paper reported.
Tramonte said it’s time to stop pushing immigrants from troubled countries from one place to another.
“How many times do people from Haiti, the Congo, Cameroon, and Afghanistan have to save their own lives in order to find a safe place to call home?” she asked. “How many countries do they have to turn to before one lets them stop moving and settle in? These are some of the strongest, bravest, and smartest people I have ever known. They want to live in Ohio and are doing great things here. Ohio needs them. We would benefit from embracing them and their family members, and helping them put down permanent roots, not making them feel scared and telling them to leave.”
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com.