Effects of New Administration’s Travel Ban Resonate Close to Home

By Denver Donchez
News Reporter

President Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries has been one of the most polarizing and publicized events of the new administration.

The order, which temporarily banned refugees and immigrants from these seven countries from entering the United States, was intended by the administration to go into effect immediately, however officials in charge of implementing the order were not fully briefed until it had already taken effect. This resulted in chaos and confusion, as many people with visas and green cards who had boarded planes before the order was announced, landed in the U.S. and were either detained or sent back to the country they had come from. A day after the order went into effect, thousands of people across the country gathered in airports to protest the ban.

A U.S. District judge in Seattle issued a stay on the order three days after it took effect, successfully ending the travel ban until the decision could be appealed.

Most recently, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the lower court’s decision, enabling travel to resume.

Despite the short window of time that the order was enforced, many people across the country and here at Texas State have been affected.

Dana Rinaudo, the vice president of Texas State’s Muslim Student Association, said that the fears and stereotypes about Muslims that have been perpetuated by the travel ban have been around for a long time now. She said that although the executive order plays on a lot of fears, it has also brought people closer together.

When she attended the protest at the Austin Bergstrom airport, she said two things stuck out to her: the huge crowds of people who had gathered, and the diversity of those protesting. She said people from all walks of life were there, not just Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent.

“The main message of the ban affects everyone, because we’re all immigrants. I’m glad that people were able to see that,” she said.

Texas State’s Muslim Student Association seeks to promote cultural awareness and collaboration through student activities and social events. The organization is open to people of all faiths.

For more information on MSA and other ways of getting involved on campus, visit the Student Organizations Council.

Featured image by Madison Tyson.