Author’s Note: When I was asked to cover the following story, I found it difficult to turn down the offer. As a Korean adoptee, I came to America when I was a baby – without any trouble from either government or hierarchy. I can only imagine what so many across this country, who may be looking for safety and refuge here, are thinking. And how they’re coping with the aftermath of a radical, perhaps unconstitutional decision.
On January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump made waves when he signed an executive order that banned thousands from obtaining visas to travel in the United States. It was a decision which has sparked massive protests in airports around the country -- and ultimately cut off travel for hundreds of people from seven Muslim countries, including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen.
According to an article published by The New York Times, three of those countries are targeted as sponsors of terrorism (Iran, Sudan, and Syria), while three others (Yemen, Somalia, and Libya) are counties being flagged for concern of more violence and war. Looking at these simple yet terrifying statistics, one might forget there are innocent people in these countries who are having to endure the pain of this chaos. People who didn’t ask for it, don’t represent it – and most importantly, don’t deserve it.
Take 12-year-old Eman Ali’s story for example. Forced to live in war-torn Yemen with her grandparents, Ali was issued an immigrant visa on Jan. 26, one day before President Trump’s ban went into effect. She was scheduled to board a plane in Dijbouti with her father – who is a legal U.S. citizen, on Jan. 28 but was not permitted to get on the plane with him, due to the newly-issued ban. Soon after this incident, the father and daughter were then left stranded and alone in Dijbouti, where they have no friends or family.
Ali’s parents are both citizens and residents of Los Banos, California – where they live with her two siblings, who are also legal U.S. citizens. Ali has been separated from her family for many years while trying to obtain an immigrant visa —a goal which she recently achieved on Feb. 5 after years of trial, error, and hardship.
She was granted immediate U.S. citizenship upon getting her visa, when Trump’s ban was lifted by an order made by the Seattle District Court on Feb. 3—allowing those from the seven countries that were originally banned—to travel within the U.S. if they had valid visas to do so.
Ali’s story has garnered national attention. It has been covered by the likes of The Mercury News, Slate, and The San Francisco Chronicle. Katy Lewis, a lawyer at Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, LLP, has been representing Ali in her case for justice.
The young girl’s journey even caught the eye of Congressman Jim Costa, who represents the 16th District of California. He has written several press releases on his website in addition to giving a speech about Ali on the House floor. A GoFundMe page has also been started to raise funds and awareness on behalf of Ali and her family, which raised thousands of dollars in its first 15 hours since its launch on Jan. 30 of this year. Many more campaigns are being created across the country in Ali’s honor.
Perhaps the most important piece of this story is a statement made by Katy Lewis on behalf of Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, LLP, which is included in an official press release:
“We are very happy that this ordeal is finally coming to an end for this family but we are deeply troubled by the terribly wrongheaded, discriminatorily and illegal edicts of this new [presidential] administration. We are very thankful that Judges throughout the country are stepping in to uphold the Constitution and the principles which our country really stands for.”
It is difficult, almost painful, to believe that in less than one month in office, President Trump has caused this much disarray. In the midst of the chaos brought on by his travel ban, the decision to fully reinstate it is now being contested in court—a move that’s backed by politicians and lawmakers alike. Its impending impact remains to be seen, and felt.
While the majority of Americans are left wondering what’s next for this country, we can all hold onto the fundamental quality of hope that, if the court stays true to The Constitution and governs the way our forefathers intended, Eman Ali—and many others—will have a (hopefully permanent) place of safety and refuge if they need it.