American Muslims across the United States are celebrating President Biden’s first day in reversing ex-President Trump’s travel ban, which targeted several Muslim-majority countries.
The big picture: The repeal of what many critics call a “Muslim ban” renews the hope of thousands of families separated by Trump’s order.
In the San Francisco Bay area, Mina Mahdavi, a cyber security engineer from Campbell, renewed hopes that her mother, who lives in Iran, could spend time with her grandson, who was born months after Trump signed the ban, reports ABC7.
- Mahdavi wanted his mother to visit with a tourist visa, but the visa was denied.
In New York, Nashwan Mozeb, a Queens bodega worker, hopes to see his wife, who is in a war-torn Yemen. He’s been trying to bring it to the U.S. since 2016, according to The City.
- “Every day I pray to God to get together because it is very difficult,” Mozeb told The City, saying he expects his wife’s visa application to be approved quickly.
In Chicago, Jihad Al-Nabi, a Syrian refugee who works as a confectioner, hopes to be able to reunite with his family, he told ABC7 Chicago.
In Los Angeles, Mania Darbani called his mother, who is in Iran, the night of Biden’s inauguration when they remembered his promise to lift the ban, writes Reuters.
- “That means I can reach you very soon,” said Darbani’s mother.
But, but, but: The coronavirus pandemic may prevent some families from reuniting, as travel and visa restrictions are in place.
- There is also a huge volume of visa and waiver cases that need to be resolved.