Trump’s new travel ban sparks widespread criticism from lawmakers and rights groups
Trump’s new travel ban sparks widespread criticism from lawmakers and rights groups
Donald Trump’s newly announced travel ban on 12 countries has triggered widespread condemnation from Democrats, human rights organizations, and some Republicans, who argue the policy is discriminatory, politically motivated, and harmful to national interests. Critics say the order, which bars entry from countries including Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, and Haiti, echoes the president’s earlier controversial travel bans targeting Muslim-majority nations.
Democratic leaders swiftly denounced the ban. Senator Adam Schiff labeled it “reckless,” while Representative Pramila Jayapal said the order further isolates the U.S. on the world stage and unfairly punishes people based on their nationality. She added that the move undermines legal immigration and threatens communities that depend on immigrants’ contributions.
The inclusion of Haiti drew bipartisan concern. Republican Representative Michael Lawler, whose district includes a large Haitian American community, criticized the decision as “misguided,” stating that while Haiti faces instability, there is no evidence it poses a terrorism risk to the U.S.
Civil rights groups echoed these objections. Amnesty International USA called the ban “discriminatory, racist, and cruel,” while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) warned that it could be abused to target individuals based on religion or political beliefs. “This will not make our nation safer,” said CAIR executive director Nihad Awad, “but will divide and weaken it.”
Trump defended the order by citing national security and recent events, such as an attack in Colorado by an Egyptian national. However, critics noted that Egypt was excluded from the ban. When asked why, Trump responded that Egypt was “a country that we deal with very closely.”
The announcement came as Senate Republicans prepared to vote on Trump’s tax and spending bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. Senator Chris Murphy called the timing “not a coincidence,” accusing Trump of using the travel ban to distract from the bill’s controversial impact on healthcare and the economy.
In a related move, Trump also suspended the entry of most foreign students to Harvard University—a decision Harvard denounced as illegal and retaliatory.
