President Donald Trump's resurrected travel ban on 12 countries to affect minority families in Chicago area, refugee groups say
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — President Donald Trump is resurrecting his travel ban.

This time, most of the countries on his list have populations that are majority Black, many with relatives in the Chicago area.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Ednerson Jean Baptiste moved from Haiti two decades ago. Given the severe instability and danger in his homeland, he hoped that more of his relatives could join him in Chicago.

“As immigrants, we understand the value of hard work,” stated Jean Baptiste. “When we arrive in this country, our aim is not to create problems. We want to contribute and strengthen the economy because we see this as an admirable nation.”

This is a xenophobic attempt at family separation, and just the rhetoric around it just doesn’t match the countries that are listed.

Fasika Alem, United African Organization

However, President Trump believes people from certain countries are in the U.S. to cause trouble.

Haiti is one of 12 countries on a travel ban to begin Monday. Seven other countries have restrictions.

“Well, we don’t want to have other bad people coming into our country, by using the word bad, I’m being nice,” Trump said.

Besides Haiti, the travel ban mostly affects the Middle East and Africa.

“We strongly view this as a xenophobic effort to separate families, and the discourse surrounding it doesn’t align with the countries listed,” expressed Fasika Alem from the United African Organization.

President Trump escalated his immigration crack down following the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado. The suspect charged overstayed his VISA. He is from Egypt, which is not on Trump’s list.

The United African Organization helps resettle refugees. Alem, a program director, said the ban not only prevents families and friends from spending special events together. It also affects Americans who adopt a child from one of the countries.

“I was to adopt a child from any of those countries, it would not enable them to migrate under family based petition, they would be restricted because they are not blood relation,” Alem said.

Alem and Jean Baptiste said most people leaving the countries on Trump’s list are doing so because they are escaping war or persecution not caused by their own actions.

“There’s a lot of Haitians who would probably whether to die here than to go back to like, you know, certain part of the country because of the unsafe, because of there isn’t there’s no safety there,” Jean Baptiste said.

Like it did in 2016. the United African Organization said it will join with other refugee organizations to push back against the travel ban, which could possibly mean legal action.

“Nobody wants to leave home unless they have to, and I think that is important for people to understand,” Alem said.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
DOJ prepares to send election monitors to California following requests from state GOPs

DOJ to Deploy Election Monitors in California at GOP’s Request

The Department of Justice is set to deploy federal election observers in…
Suburban woman has saved 3 lives with what is commonly known as Heimlich maneuver, most recently at Schaumburg High School

Suburban Heroine Uses Heimlich Maneuver to Save Three Lives, Latest at Schaumburg High School

A woman from the suburbs of Schaumburg, Illinois, has become a beacon…
Alabama execution: State executes Anthony Boyd with nitrogen gas for 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley over $200 drug debt

Alabama Makes History: First Execution by Nitrogen Gas for 1993 Murder Case

ATMORE, Ala. — An Alabama man, implicated in a 1993 murder involving…
Chicago shooting: Family pleads for justice after Princeton Miller shot, killed in West Loop during brother's birthday celebration

Family Seeks Justice After Princeton Miller Fatally Shot in Chicago’s West Loop During Birthday Celebration

A grieving family is desperately seeking answers over a month after their…
Hilary Duff sobs after spilling coffee all over her Balenciaga bag

Hilary Duff’s Coffee Spill Drama: Balenciaga Bag Mishap Sparks Emotional Reaction

Hilary Duff recently shared an emotional moment with her followers, posting a…
Secret US Plan to Partition and Control Gaza

Unveiling the Controversial US Strategy to Divide and Dominate Gaza

Internal U.S. documents revealing a controversial plan to divide Gaza into zones…
Minneapolis church shooting victim released from hospital after miraculous recovery

Miraculous Recovery: Minneapolis Church Shooting Survivor Triumphs with Hospital Release

Amidst applause and heartfelt cheers, Sophia Forchas made her triumphant exit from…
Rosa Parks and Helen Keller statues unveiled at the Alabama Capitol

Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller Unveiled at Alabama State Capitol

In a momentous event on Friday, the Alabama Capitol grounds witnessed the…
Frantic manhunt launched after asylum seeker who sexually assaulted teen accidentally freed from prison

Intense Manhunt Underway: Asylum Seeker Mistakenly Released After Teen Sexual Assault Conviction

Criticism has been directed at the UK’s immigration system following the inadvertent…
Rosa Parks and Helen Keller statues will be unveiled at the Alabama Capitol

Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller Set for Unveiling at Alabama Capitol

Rep. Laura Hall, who played a crucial role in the legislation permitting…
Colts cheerleader uses sign language to converse with deaf fan at his first game

Heartwarming Moment: Colts Cheerleader Bridges the Gap with Sign Language at Deaf Fan’s First Game

Colts cheerleader Morgan McLain, who studied American Sign Language (ASL) as a…
Palisades Fire suspect has courtroom outburst while pleading not guilty at arraignment

Suspect in Palisades Fire Case Disrupts Courtroom During Not Guilty Plea

The man accused of igniting what authorities have called “one of the…