Trump’s Travel Ban Cuts Lifeline for Haitians Amid Growing Crisis
As Haiti battles violence and chaos, Trump’s new travel ban blocks desperate families from seeking safety in the US. Haitians call the move racist, experts call it calculated.
With the country in crisis, many Haitians see migration as their only hope—now blocked by Washington’s latest ban. Photo: @africanews
June 9, 2025 Hour: 6:35 am
Haiti is facing a severe humanitarian and security crisis and will feel the impact of President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban deeply. Controlled by violent gangs and heavily dependent on international aid, the country relies on migration ties with the US to support families and businesses. The ban, which targets 12 countries including Haiti, cuts off a vital lifeline.
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Haitian-American Elvanise Louis-Juste, waiting at Newark airport for a flight home to Florida, shared the urgency many feel. “Haiti is not in the shape it used to be,” she said. “There are kidnappings, killings—it’s really bad right now. People just need a way out—to have a chance at a real life.” She added, “I have family in Haiti, so it’s heartbreaking to see and hear about this.”
While existing visas remain valid, new applications will likely be rejected unless they meet very narrow exceptions. At Port-au-Prince’s only functioning airport, travelers heading to the US avoided the media out of fear of exposure and possible retaliation.
The ban is sparking outrage among Haitians, who have flooded social media and radio stations, calling President Trump “racist.” Along with Haiti, citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are also affected.
Immigration experts say this ban is designed to avoid legal challenges by focusing on visa applications. Unlike the abrupt order during Trump’s first term—which targeted mainly Muslim-majority countries and faced global protests—this ban is more carefully planned but just as harsh.
As violence and instability worsen in Haiti, cutting off migration routes removes a critical way for people to survive. With international aid struggling to keep up, the US decision deepens the suffering of a people already pushed to the edge. This ban shows how immigration policies can shut out people in desperate need of safety, leaving vulnerable communities more isolated than ever.
Author: MK
Source: Africanews
