Attorney says fear, uncertainty remain with new immigration travel ban

 

Posted March 6, 2017

There are rising concerns over the new immigration travel ban signed by the president.

The latest plan bans immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries for at least 90 days.

Iraq, which had been listed in the last ban, is no longer on the list.

President Donald Trump’s administration is hoping this version of the ban will end any legal challenges, but not everyone sees that happening.

The original order was blocked in federal court and led to people being detained in airports and protests breaking out across the country.

An Orlando attorney is worried that’s it’s going to happen all over again.

Immigration attorney Nyef Mubarak said he represents a man from Syria who opened a business in Orlando.

The man was approved for an investor’s visa, and has been waiting to receive it overseas, so he can stay in Orlando with his wife and children.

But Mubarak said their future is now unclear because of the ban.

“They feel like they’re being punished even though they followed the law completely,” he said.

The ban does not include people who are permanent U.S. residents, or who already have valid visas.

The order does not contain the language in the previous order that referred to banning Syrian refuges indefinitely and prioritizing religious minorities.

Some Orlando travelers said they support the president’s new ban.

“From my point of view, I feel more secure with the ban,” said Dyllis Wells.

Wells lives in Orlando and said she obtained U.S. citizenship several decades ago after moving from the United Kingdom.

She said she hopes the ban leads to improved vetting measures for people who are entering the U.S.

“I think that it’s the best thing that he could do for the country, from a security point of view,” Wells said.

But for many of Mubarak’s clients, there is uncertainty and fear in the days ahead.

“These large bans, in any situation that blankets a group of people, you know, the consequences to the innocents, is always going to be very great,” said Mubarak.

The order also reinstates a temporary ban on all refugees for 120 days.

Source: WFTV 9

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