Immigrant Rights Organization, OneAmerica, Condemns the Trump Travel Ban as an Attack on Washington State 

Seattle, WA –  In response to the travel ban announced by the Trump administration today, immigrants in Washington State have been left wondering when they will see their family members again. Twelve countries were included in the ban issued by President Donald Trump, which is broader than the ban issued during his first term. OneAmerica, a Washington State immigrant rights organization that works with immigrants from some of these countries, strongly condemns this ban.  

“Today, my heart is heavy with the travel ban news. My family, who were in the process of obtaining U.S. visas, have had their hopes shattered,” said Madina Hassany, a OneAmerica member and immigrant from Afghanistan. “They sold everything they had in Afghanistan, seeking safety and a better future, only to be met with uncertainty and despair. The travel ban and policies that target entire communities don’t just close borders—they close doors on dreams, tear families apart, and leave countless lives in limbo. Compassion should guide our actions, not fear or division. Instead, families who have already experienced loss and trauma are left to grapple with more heartbreak.”  

This travel ban fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. 

The Travel Ban partially restricts entry of people from seven additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. 

Roxana Norouzi, Executive Director of OneAmerica shared the following statement:  

“My parents came to the United States from Iran to build a better life for my sister and for me. That dream of a thriving home has motivated immigrant families to come to this country for generations. Families belong together, and limiting travel based on race and religion is a decision rooted in hate and is all part of advancing Trump’s xenophobic, anti-American agenda. Scapegoating immigrants and limiting immigration only serves to distract from the Trump Administration’s efforts to enrich their billionaire allies by attacking immigrants and cutting programs working people depend on. 

This travel ban extends the cruelty of this administration, and it does not make our communities safer. Our federal government shouldn’t be in the business of separating families. Instead, they should be working to create jobs, raise wages, lower costs, and fix our immigration system so it lives up to our American values and meets the demands of our economy. That is what a thriving country looks like for us all.    

OneAmerica, which was founded to fight Islamophobia after 9/11, was part of the broad coalition of groups that fought the Muslim Ban during the first Trump administration. We’ll do it again because we must continue to welcome all those who come into our country, seeking safety and a thriving life for their families. 

We know that when immigrants, refugees, and allies come together, we are powerful. We have the ability to build a country where everyone can thrive. And we won’t back down.” 

Resources:

• National Immigration Law Center
• Council on American Islamic Relations – Washington
• No Muslim Ban Ever Coalition

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OneAmerica organizes immigrant and refugee leaders and our allies to build power in our communities and run campaigns to create a just immigration system, inclusive education for all, and a truly representative democracy.