WASHINGTON, CMC – As outrage intensifies over United States President Donald J. Trump’s newest journey ban, the US Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Friday joined in strongly condemning the ban that bars individuals from 12 nations, together with Haiti, from getting into the US.
Apart from Haiti, Trump on Wednesday banned individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from getting into the US.
The US President additionally positioned restrictions on vacationers from Cuba, Venezuela, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.
“President Trump’s proclamation to ban, block, and/or restrict the entry of individuals from 19 nations—lots of that are predominantly Black and brown nations—is nothing greater than a blatantly merciless and racist try to stop choose international nationals from accessing alternatives,” mentioned CBC, chaired by Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.
“By falsely labeling these people as terrorists and threats to our nation, the administration continues its age-old, hideous follow of perpetuating household fragmentation,” added CBC in an announcement. “This proclamation has nothing to do with nationwide safety; fairly, it represents a continuation of the Trump administration’s longstanding sample of bigoted assaults in opposition to Black and brown nations.
“He goals to create worry, sow division, and demonize the susceptible—lots of whom are struggling to get well from catastrophic circumstances, searching for life-saving medical consideration, or have waited a long time to be reunited with relations,” it continued. “Others are fleeing brutal regimes searching for security and a greater life in the US.”
Given the urgency of the state of affairs, CBC disclosed that members met this week with the Haitian Ambassador to the US, Lionel Delatour, to debate the journey ban and different essential issues.
“The Congressional Black Caucus stays steadfast in its dedication to defending our nation’s most susceptible communities—lots of whom have direct ties to the nations focused by this journey ban,” the assertion mentioned. “From the very starting, the muse of our nation has been constructed and fortified by individuals who have migrated right here from throughout the globe.
“America is a real melting pot of humanity, and our variety permeates each facet of society,” it added. “That the Trump administration continues to take steps to dismantle this notion, rewrite our shared historical past, and impose cruelty on the American individuals and people we maintain expensive is just unconscionable.
“Individuals of goodwill should stand united in opposition to this bigoted ban,” CBC continued. “We can’t stand by and permit President Trump to proceed focusing on these communities and threatening the very cloth of our nation.
“President Trump’s authentic journey ban was defeated within the courts, and we’ll proceed preventing to make sure this one meets the identical destiny,” it affirmed. “Sufficient is sufficient!”
On Thursday, the Co-Chairs of the Haiti Caucus within the US Home of Representatives joined in strongly condemning Trump’s journey ban.
“We condemn Donald Trump’s bigoted journey ban within the strongest potential phrases,” mentioned Co-chairs Clarke and Ayanna Pressley, consultant for Massachusetts’s seventh Congressional District, in a joint assertion.
“Let’s be clear: the President of the US has dedicated an unambiguously xenophobic assault on essentially the most susceptible individuals on the earth, lots of whom will die as a direct consequence of his cruelty,” they added. “These are kids, ladies, and males who’re fleeing political turmoil and struggle, who’re attempting to outlive famine and pure catastrophes.
“Haitians and so many others are drowning, and Donald Trump simply ripped a life preserver from their determined arms and tied weights round their ankles,” Clarke and Pressley continued. “However the continuation of their struggling is the purpose. It is a focused abuse of tons of of thousands and thousands of Black and Brown individuals at a scale of cruelty even past the traditionally despicable Muslim and African Bans, and it’s undergirded by nothing however baseless accusations and one man’s insatiable hate.
“The American individuals know that. It doesn’t matter what sick justifications he offers or sadistic lies he spins, we see this vile, illegal act for what it’s. Simply as we see him for who he’s,” they mentioned.
Due to this fact, the co-chairs referred to as on “all individuals of conscience to acknowledge this cruelty for what it’s” and requested to affix them in “standing with the harmless individuals who Donald Trump sought to harm via this govt order.
“Within the face of such brutal inhumanity, they want greater than our help, and so they want greater than our love,” Clarke and Pressley mentioned. “Solely our unwavering and absolute dedication to struggle in opposition to this wicked act within the courts, in our communities, and the halls of Congress is ample at this second.”
Individually, Clarke, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, earlier on Thursday instructed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC) that Trump’s journey ban is “not a brand new coverage; it’s a harmful sequel to the identical discriminatory playbook he used throughout his first time period with the notorious Muslim Ban.
“That coverage tore households aside, sowed worry in immigrant communities, and betrayed America’s values,” she mentioned. “Now, with a broader record of focused nations, he’s doubling down on the identical hateful rhetoric and xenophobic technique.
“The ban’s scope and lack of nuanced safety assessments reveal its true nature: a political maneuver rooted in prejudice fairly than a real effort to guard our nation,” Clarke added. “This renewed journey ban is nothing wanting a thinly veiled continuation of his anti-immigrant, anti-Black, and anti-Muslim agenda, and it’s rooted within the very basis set by Challenge 2025.”
Challenge 2025 is a political initiative led by the Washington-based Heritage Basis, a conservative (Republican) suppose tank. The “mission” is taken into account a blueprint for a possible conservative administration, primarily aiming to restructure the US Govt Department and radically implement far-right insurance policies.
“Let me be clear: this newest journey ban is just not a matter of nationwide safety however is fairly a blatant continuation of Donald Trump’s longstanding struggle on Black and brown immigrants,” Clarke mentioned. “From the second he referred to African nations as ‘shithole nations,’ his agenda has been crystal clear: to demonize and shut out individuals of shade from the promise of America.
“The ninth Congressional District of New York represents a cultural mosaic of variety, and I see on daily basis how immigrant households strengthen our neighborhoods, drive our economic system, and enrich our tradition,” she added.
The congresswoman mentioned her “coronary heart breaks for my constituents as a result of this disturbing choice doesn’t simply affect the thousands and thousands nonetheless confined to their dwelling nations; It cuts off the lifeline of their relations who’ve discovered a brand new dwelling in my district and throughout America who depend on sources from their households right here within the states.
“All of them deserve dignity — not discrimination,” Clarke continued. “I stand with them, and I’ll use each software at my disposal in Congress to oppose this unjust and un-American ban.”
The San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), an immigrant advocacy group, additionally strongly denounced Trump’s journey ban.
“This isn’t about nationwide safety — that is about systemic racism, xenophobia, and the criminalization of Black, Brown, and Muslim our bodies globally,” HBA Govt Director Guerline Jozef instructed CMC. “As soon as once more, US immigration coverage is being weaponized to disclaim entry, dignity and fundamental human rights to individuals from nations which have lengthy borne the brunt of colonialism, Western intervention and financial extraction.”
“This is similar administration that deports Black immigrants solely to import White refugees from South Africa beneath the false declare of genocide,” she added. “We can’t proceed to normalize govt orders that single out Black, Brown, and Muslim-majority nations for exclusion.
“Congress should act by codifying guardrails that stop the wholesale banning of nationals from whole areas of the world beneath the pretext of ‘nationwide safety,’” Jozef continued. “The destiny of households, college students, staff, and asylum seekers depends upon it.
“The Pan-African neighborhood — throughout the US Africa, and the Diaspora — should stand united in opposition to these draconian insurance policies that echo a protracted historical past of Western exclusion and exploitation of the World South,” she urged.
Late Thursday, Make the Highway New York (MRNY), one other immigrant advocacy group, denounced Trump’s newest journey ban.
“Trump is as soon as once more unleashing his racist playbook, weaponizing xenophobia to terrorize immigrant communities,” MRNY Deputy Director Natalia Aristizabal instructed CMC. “This merciless coverage will tear aside households who’ve already survived unimaginable violence and persecution, forcing them into everlasting separation from their family members.
“It abandons our nation’s dedication to be a beacon of hope for these searching for security and alternative, all whereas doing nothing to make our communities safer,” she added. “However Trump has as soon as once more miscalculated. His deportation machine is assembly resistance at each flip: judges are blocking him, mayors are standing up in opposition to him, and other people throughout the nation are rising in protest.
“We defeated Trump’s first journey ban, and we’ll defeat this one, too,” Aristizabal vowed. “Make the Highway stands able to struggle this coverage with each software at our disposal – within the streets, within the courtroom, and in our communities.
“We’re stronger than Trump’s hate, and we won’t again down till all immigrants can dwell with dignity and freedom on this nation,” she continued.
Earlier on Thursday, Haitian-American legislators in Brooklyn expressed outrage over Trump’s motion.
“It’s with outrage and concern that Trump’s administration has imposed a brand new journey ban that disproportionately impacts African and Caribbean nations, together with Haiti,” New York State Meeting Member Rodnesye Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Social gathering, instructed CMC.
“Because the daughter of Haitian immigrants, I condemn this discriminatory coverage in opposition to Haiti and different nations,” added the consultant for the forty second Meeting District in Brooklyn. “This choice will create chaos, threaten households, and hurt diplomatic relations, inflicting worry and uncertainty.
“I urge Individuals to oppose Trump’s racist and xenophobic insurance policies and struggle to revive democracy in our legislative, govt, and judicial branches,” Bichotte Hermelyn continued.
New York Metropolis Council Member Farah N. Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, mentioned Trump’s choice to impose journey restrictions on 12 nations, together with Haiti, “represents a despicable and deeply troubling second for our neighborhood.
“Haiti is as soon as once more being unfairly focused, and that is an intentional assault on our id and dignity,” the consultant for the forty fifth Council District in Brooklyn instructed CMC. “This federal authorities has exhibited ongoing hostility towards Haiti and Haitian nationals in the US—individuals who have fought to make their dwelling right here and invested closely in our economic system whereas supporting our shared values.
“Reviews of this latest and instant journey ban compound the disaster we’re already confronting—the administration’s large deportation efforts scheduled for August 2025,” Louis added.
She mentioned that turning away Haitians fleeing violence and political instability is a “merciless coverage wrapped in false justification.
“The USA has an ethical obligation to guard, not punish, the susceptible,” the councilmember mentioned. “This choice punishes individuals fleeing disaster and betrays the values we declare to uphold.”
Louis disclosed that the Nationwide Haitian American Organisation Community—uniting Haitian elected officers and govt leaders nationwide—will quickly announce “a complete, coordinated nationwide technique to help Haitian nationals affected by this latest choice.
“Collectively, we stand dedicated to defending our neighborhood and guaranteeing their voices are heard,” she mentioned.
Louis’s Metropolis Council colleague Rita Joseph, the Haitian-born consultant for the fortieth Council District in Brooklyn, additionally instructed CMC that Trump “fails to acknowledge the humanitarian disaster driving the instability in Haiti.
“This journey ban punishes those that are victims of extraordinary violence, lawlessness, and political instability,” she mentioned. “The state of affairs in Haiti is, certainly, dire–over 5,600 individuals have been killed in gang violence in 2024 alone, and a million individuals have been displaced, half of whom are kids.
“The nation faces what the United Nations has referred to as “a degree of no return,” with almost half of the inhabitants dealing with excessive ranges of acute meals insecurity,” she added. “Relatively than closing our doorways to Haitian nationals fleeing this violence, we ought to be working with the Haitian neighborhood within the Diaspora and at dwelling together with worldwide companions to handle the basis causes of the disaster.”
Joseph famous that gang violence has expanded into new areas, with at the least 4 massacres claiming over 400 lives in latest months.
“The Haitian persons are not the supply of this instability – they’re its victims,” she mentioned. “These journey restrictions come at a time when Haiti desperately wants worldwide help, not isolation. Almost half of the Haitian inhabitants wants some type of humanitarian help, and slicing off pathways for authorized migration solely compounds the struggling of these searching for security and alternative.”
The council member referred to as on Trump to rethink these restrictions as they apply to Haiti and as an alternative deal with Supporting efforts to revive safety and stability with the individuals of Haiti, facilitating humanitarian help to handle the instant wants of the Haitian individuals, resembling famine, financial instability, healthcare and extra; and dealing with regional companions to deal with the circulation of weapons fueling gang violence.
Joseph additionally urged the Trump administration to conduct congressional oversight on the unlawful circulation of weapons into Haiti and the broader Caribbean area and to keep up pathways for Haitian nationals to hunt refuge and alternative in the US.
“Our nation has at all times been strengthened by those that have come right here searching for a greater life, together with many members of our Haitian neighborhood who’ve contributed immeasurably to our metropolis’s character and economic system,” she mentioned. “We should not flip our backs on them of their hour of biggest want.
“As a New York Metropolis Council Member who represents a big Haitian neighborhood in my district, I’ll stay steadfast in my advocacy for his or her safety and help,” she added. “The reply to Haiti’s disaster is to not slam the door shut, however to increase a serving to hand whereas working towards lasting options that restore peace, stability, and prosperity.”
In a White Home proclamation on Wednesday, Trump mentioned, “The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are, in my judgment, essential to stop the entry or admission of international nationals about whom the US Authorities lacks ample data to evaluate the dangers they pose to the US.
“The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are essential to garner cooperation from international governments, implement our immigration legal guidelines, and advance different essential international coverage, nationwide safety, and counterterrorism goals,” Trump added.
On Friday, the Haitian authorities mentioned it was disillusioned with Trump’s choice, lamenting that the motion “comes at a time when the Haitian authorities is striving, with the help of its worldwide companions, to fight insecurity and strengthen border safety.
“Whereas making an allowance for the immigration coverage measures adopted within the train of the sovereign rights of a international authorities, the ministry attracts consideration to the hazard posed by armed gangs, not too long ago designated terrorist teams, to Haiti’s relations with different nations,” mentioned the Haitian Ministry of Overseas Affairs in an announcement.
It said that it’s conscious of the implications of Washington’s choice on Haitian households, each inside and out of doors the French-speaking Caribbean nation, and is dedicated to working in direction of fast options.
Nevertheless, the ministry mentioned that the Haitian authorities intends to proceed dialogue and cooperation with Washington on safety and migration coverage.
