COLDWATER—The city’s large Yemeni community is concerned about the impact President Donald Trump’s expected travel ban will have on families.
Yemen is on that list of 11 countries to be banned, according to The New York Times, which obtained a draft of the recommendations last week.
Musa Ahmed, a leader with the American Moslem Society of Coldwater, said, “It’s very, very concerning, especially since we’re talking about the proposed ban for those who carry the green card.”
It’s unclear what will happen to Yemenis who are American citizens or those with visas who attempt to return to the U.S. if the president includes Yemen in the travel ban.
During his first term, Trump banned travel from many of the same countries but excluded those on visas and green card holders.
Ahmed said there are many here with families still in Yemen. “If those who are holding a green card, the Permanent Resident Card, are restricted from traveling from and to Yemen, that will affect quite a bit of families.”
Ahmed said he is unsure how many local residents might now be in Yemen. If the ban takes effect, Ahmed said, “The information that we have is that they won’t be able to come back.”
“There are people who are petitioning for their families to come here. Petitions take five to eight years and sometimes even more to process. So they go back and forth until the petition is processed,” Ahmed explained.
Four local men who traveled to Egypt this year to marry wives from Yemen are of special concern.
The four are trying to obtain visas for their wives who returned to Yemen after the marriage. That process can take up to 18 months
If Trump places Yemen on the “Red” list, the wives will not be able to obtain visas, and their husbands will not be able to travel to Yemen to see them.
Another problem is since the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Yemen, those wishing to come to the U.S. or to travel to Yemen must make arrangements through other Arab nations or Djibouti in Africa.
Trump declared Yemen’s Houthis as a terrorist organization. That faction controls much of the country’s north and west sections, including the capital, Sana’a.
After Houthis rocket attacks on Israel, the U.S. military attacked the capital where at least two of the wives live, inflicting some civilian casualties. Neither were reported injured.
Yemenis in Michigan hope there is some support for their plight.
Ahmed said there is no concern about the deportation of local Yemenis. “Everybody here entered legally with legal documents,” he said.
Coldwater’s Yemeni community members were concerned about directly addressing the travel ban and President Trump, referring questions to Ahmed.
Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
