Much to the dismay of many, on Friday, January 27, President Trump stopped all Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian and Yemeni from entering the U.S. for 90 days and suspended entry to the U.S. for all refugees for 120 days. Syrian refugees in particular have been barred indefinitely. Many in the U.S. have taken action to show their opposition toward the decision. Maciej Siembab ‘17 said “I think it’s great that people have taken up action to show their opinion on refugees being denied entry to the country.” Protests have been going on in many airports here in the U.S, including O’Hare. Homeland Security has also stopped green-card holders from entering back into the U.S. from these countries. However, a federal judge in Brooklyn blocked part of Trump’s original plan to send back refugees that had already made it to the U.S. but were being held at airports along with those who had valid visas. Lawyers sued the White House claiming the judge’s decision to not stop all refugees from being sent back could affect an additional 150 people. The local consensus seems to be very against this decision to stop the refugees from entering the U.S. Isaac Man ‘17 added “It is amazing that there are so many people supporting refugees that make it to America.” Despite the executive orders to stop refugees from just these seven countries, a family in Philadelphia coming from Jordan was put back on a plane to their home country. One man, Moustafa Hajouli,had his wife sent back to Qatar despite having a J2 visa, which is given to spouses of immigrants. He said “I was hopeless, but seeing this,” he said as he pointed to the crowds of people holding welcome signs, “this gives me hope.” WY students were appalled by this. Austin Lam ‘17 had some input saying “The ban on refugees doesn’t make sense considering not all the refugees are bad people and they are human just like all of us.”  The protests began the evening Trump announced the strict restrictions on refugees coming to the U.S. Many viewed these new rules as unfair, as not all refugees are a potential threat to our society as President Trump has said. With this incident sparking such an uproar, it may foreshadow what our new President has planned for the next four years. After seeing how the nation reacted it proposes the question of how the nation will react to these Trump’s future actions in office.

Photo: Mike Legeros

Photo: Tyler LaRiviere