Muslim Americans in the US celebrate President Biden’s reversal on Day 1 of former President Trump’s travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries.
The big picture: The repeal of what many critics have called the “Muslim ban” renews hope for thousands of families separated by Trump’s orders.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Mina Mahdavi, a Campbell-based cybersecurity engineer, once again hopes her mother, who lives in Iran, could spend time with her grandson, who was born months after Trump signed the ban, ABC7 reports.
- Mahdavi wanted her mother to visit with a tourist visa, but the visa was denied.
In New York City, Nashwan Mozeb, a Queens bodega worker, hopes to see his wife, who is in war-torn Yemen. According to The City, he’s been trying to bring her to the US since 2016.
- “Every day I pray to God to get together because it is too difficult,” Mozeb told The City, hoping that his wife’s visa application will be approved soon.
In Chicago, Jihad Al-Nabi, a Syrian refugee who works as a pastry chef, hopes he can reunite with his family, he told ABC7 Chicago.
In Los Angeles, Mania Darbani called her mother, who is in Iran, on the night of Biden’s inauguration when they remembered his promise to withdraw the ban, Reuters writes.
- “It means I can reach you very quickly,” Darbani’s mother said to her.
But, but, but: The coronavirus pandemic may deter some families from gathering as there are travel and visa restrictions.
- There is also a huge amount of visa and waiver cases to be resolved.