South Florida leaders are criticizing the Trump administration’s travel ban impacting Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela. They argue that it is a cruel policy that jeopardizes communities and families. Local officials stress the contributions of these immigrant groups and advocate for a humane immigration approach. Some lawmakers view the travel restrictions as a security measure but emphasize the need to protect family unity.
On Thursday, leaders from South Florida expressed strong opposition to the Trump administration’s travel ban affecting Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela—three nations grappling with significant crises. This ban is part of a broader set of prohibitions that target 19 countries and aims to restrict entry into the U.S. Marleine Bastien, a Haiti-born Miami-Dade County commissioner, voiced serious concerns stating, “This is not only a cruel and xenophobic policy proposal – it is a blatant attempt to scapegoat an already suffering people. This unjust policy will sow chaos in our communities, separating families and disrupting lives.”
Bastien highlighted the Haitian-American community’s integral role in Miami-Dade’s cultural and economic landscape, emphasizing that they are vital to the community’s strength. She further noted, “Targeting Haiti in this manner is not just only discriminatory, but a betrayal of the values America claims to uphold—compassion, justice, and opportunity for all,” criticizing the recent immigration directives that stripped Haitian migrants of protections.
As the travel ban is set to be enforced this coming Monday, confusion lingers among current U.S. visa holders from Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela concerning their ability to enter the country. Elected officials from South Florida underscored the potential devastation the ban could unleash in areas like Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which house significant populations of immigrants from these nations. North Miami Mayor Alex Desulme pointed out that the Haitian community comprises more than just residents—they are entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare professionals, and parents, all contributing to the local fabric.
Desulme declared, “The reinstatement of this ban is a direct attack on the values of equity, compassion, and opportunity that our city and this nation were built upon. It causes fear, separates families, disrupts lives and unfairly targets communities that have long contributed to the country’s strength and prosperity.” He urged federal leaders to reconsider the ban and work toward a more humane immigration system.
Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen echoed these sentiments, describing the ban as an assault on collective humanity and a dismissal of the core principles that uphold the nation’s greatness. “This policy is not about safety; it’s about exclusion,” she remarked, reinforcing her stance as a Haitian American.
With Trump winning Miami-Dade in the last election—a noteworthy change since George H.W. Bush—local Republicans are now faced with the challenge of reconciling support for the White House with the effects of its immigration policies on their constituents. U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Miami, acknowledged the travel restrictions as necessary for national security while maintaining that family unity should be protected.
“We must draw a clear line between hostile regimes and the families who suffer under them,” she asserted. “These are people who have followed the law and waited years, even decades, to reunite with loved ones in the U.S. We can protect our country while upholding the values that make America a beacon of hope and freedom.”
In summary, South Florida leaders are vocally opposed to the forthcoming travel ban aimed at Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela. They argue that the ban unjustly targets vulnerable communities and undermines the values of compassion and opportunity. Local officials emphasize the critical roles immigrants play in society and urge for a more equitable immigration framework that unites families rather than divides them. While some U.S. officials deem the policy a temporary measure for national security, the larger implications for affected families cannot be overlooked.
Original Source: www.miamiherald.com
