The Trump Administration on Friday unveiled a series of immigration restrictions and temporary travel bans that quickly become flash points nationwide for immigration, terrorism, and national security.
The new restrictions, abruptly introduced Friday in the name of "protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry," blocked travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
The orders created confusion and uncertainty for travelers and sparked protests at airports across the country, including Miami International Airport. A federal judge soon stayed portions of Trump's executive order, but the Department of Homeland Security says the president's orders "remain in place" and that "the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety."
Tuesday at 1 p.m. on Gulf Coast Live, several guests weigh in on the impact of Trump's immigration orders in South Florida:
- WLRN reporter Tim Padgett provides an update on protests in Miami and the reaction from travelers in South Florida.
- Immigration attorney Lindsay Ray with Amigos Center provides an explanation of visas, green cards, and the difference between refugees and others seeking a home in the U.S.
- Iranian-American artist Leila Mesdaghi discusses how her family and friends in Iran, and others holding dual citizenship in Iran, face uncertainty under the new travel laws.
- Mohammad Al-Darsani, a Syrian-American whose family members have fled Syria as others died in the country's ongoing civil war. He's also an imam with the Fort Myers Islamic Center for Peace.