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Trump’s Travel Ban Contradicts Core American Values of Family and Freedom
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, President Trump enacted a new draconian ban that denies countless people the freedom to move, travel, and reunite with loved ones. People from 12 countries face broad restrictions on virtually all immigration and travel, while people from seven additional countries face partial restrictions on immigrant (family- and employer- sponsored) and non-immigrant (business, student and tourist) visas.
The full ban announced today separates families and loved ones from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, while the partial ban applies to people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Of these countries, most are Muslim-majority countries or have predominantly Black and Brown populations. The ban does not apply to green card holders or to people who were already granted a visa to immigrate or travel to the United States as of June 9, 2025.
Five years ago, communities celebrated as President Biden rescinded Trump’s Muslim and African Bans. Trump’s first term Bans left thousands of people with visas and dreams stranded at airports around the world, separated families for years, denied students educational opportunities, and subjected Arab, African, and Muslim communities to suspicion and isolation echoing shameful periods of U.S. history, from the Chinese Exclusion Act and the incarceration of Japanese Americans to the sweeping surveillance and profiling of Muslim Americans after 9/11.
In response to Trump’s new ban on our freedoms, Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, said in a statement:
“For most of us, there is nothing we wouldn’t do to make sure our families are safe and together. Whether we were born here or made this country our home, we cherish our freedoms to pursue our dreams and to be with our loved ones.
“Today, President Trump is claiming the power to control our lives by enacting a more expansive Ban targeting 19 countries. This policy will tear families apart worldwide, preventing people from being together during life’s critical moments. Through dehumanizing lies and erratic policies, the federal government is pointing the finger at aspiring citizens, students, immigrant families, and Asian, African, Latin, and Muslim Americans, hoping to distract us as they destroy our jobs, healthcare, and schools - the real solutions we need for well-being and prosperity.
"We refuse to comply with this administration’s agenda of control and intimidation. This sweeping travel ban is just one tool in a broader strategy to consolidate power by scapegoating communities and manufacturing fear.
In 2023, community members represented by the Asian Law Caucus, Muslim Advocates, National Immigration Law Center, and other partners won a major agreement that provided a clear visa reconsideration process, including waived application fees to nearly 25,000 community members from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Though the harms of Trump’s first term Bans are irreparable, class members in Emami v. Nielsen and Pars Equality Center v. Blinken are still entitled to prioritization for consular interviews, waived fees, and a clear path to visa reconsideration. In the coming days, the Asian Law Caucus will be sharing updated information on community members’ rights and how to seek help, including for class members in these cases.
Earlier this year, the Asian Law Caucus joined hundreds of organizations across the country to support the reintroduction of the NO BAN Act, which would block any president from banning people because of their faith. For more information, visit NoMuslimBanEver.com.