How Does the Middle East Ban Affect Students
Global backlash has occurred in the result of Trump’s first travel ban on seven Middle Eastern countries. Statistically, no deaths have occurred in terrorist attacks from the seven countries- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen- on U.S. soil, between 1975 and 2015.
The conditions of the ban have also affected students and families living in Walnut Creek. Las Lomas Alumnus Ardalan Ghoorchian, spoke about his concerns about the ban.
“I do not understand the concept of the travel ban, because the immigrants that come from the countries have all been FBI checked,” said Ghoorchian. The ban has caused travelers to be detained and denied entry, with others to be sent back to where the flew in from.
“My mom got stuck in the airport about two months ago and it was a lot of stress,” said Ghoorchian.“The lawyer and I had to spend the night at the airport to get my mom back.”
In addition to the ban, some students are fearful of having to choose between their career or families. Ghoorchian expressed his hardship of wanting to study in Iran.
“I have the opportunity to intern at one of the best hospitals in Iran, but I’m scared of being denied entry back in the U.S.,” said Ghoorchian. He fears that if he leaves for Iran, he will not being allowed entry into the U.S. again.
Federal courts have temporarily blocked Trump’s original executive order that stopped refugee resettlement. However, the order has also reduced the amount of refugees admitted in the U.S. from 110,000 to 50,000.
“Refugees need our help more than ever and we’re pushing them away,” said sophomore Melissa Gheisari.
The president claims that the order is working nicely and ensures the safety of the nation.
Although the order will not affect the citizenship of Gheisari and her family living in the U.S., she still feels that the ban is unnecessary. “Trump is trying to justify islamophobia, and it makes me so sick that so many people support him are completely okay with what he’d doing,” said Gheisari.
Language teacher Ms. Miranda feels that there are other ways to address the situation. “I think it’s against everything our country stands for,” said Miranda. “There are so many other issues in our country that need to be addressed and need to be approved before even touching immigration.”
It’s highly likely that the order will face legal challenges, with the possibility of Trump adding more countries. Although citizens feel attacked and as if the order is more realistically a “Muslim ban,” Trump has denied this and claims he is only keeping the country safe.
