Miami leaders condemn Trump travel ban
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Haitian and Venezuelan community leaders in Miami called President Trump's travel ban xenophobic as South Florida's immigrant communities face further restrictions.
The big picture: Trump's order fully bans Haitian citizens from traveling to the U.S. and partially bans entry for Venezuelans and Cubans, among a total of 19 nations impacted.
- Greater Miami is home to the largest Venezuelan, Haitian and Cuban diasporas in the U.S.
- The Trump administration has already revoked the legal status of many immigrants from these countries through restrictions on humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status.
Zoom in: The order suspends the issuance of most immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Cubans and Venezuelans, while fully banning entry from Haitians, the Miami Herald reports.
- Trump writes in the order that Venezuela "lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures."
- For Haiti, he noted a 31% visitor visa overstay rate and said mass migration from Haiti creates "acute risks of increased overstay rates, establishment of criminal networks, and other national security threats."
There are exemptions for current visa holders, green card holders, dual citizens, persons seeking visas through U.S. citizen family members and refugees granted asylum, per the New York Times.
- The order takes effect Monday.
What they're saying: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who was born in Haiti, issued a statement warning that Trump's "unjust policy will sow chaos in our communities, separating families and disrupting lives."
- "This is not only a cruel and xenophobic policy proposal – it is a blatant attempt to scapegoat an already suffering people."
Adelys Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, told the Herald that the ban targeted nations "ravaged by war, dictatorships, famine, and death."
- She criticized Venezuelan-American Trump supporters on Instagram, writing, "My Magazolano friends, thank you for voting for this."