CHICAGO — Immigration advocates, elected officials, and civil rights groups across Chicago are forcefully condemning a newly announced travel ban from the Trump administration that targets travelers from 19 countries, calling it both discriminatory and politically motivated.
The ban, which takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., is viewed by many as a revival and expansion of the controversial “Muslim ban” issued during Trump’s first term.
“This travel ban won’t make America safer or greater — instead it will isolate us and make people believe they have something to fear,” wrote U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García on X, calling the ban a distraction from the administration’s corruption.
What The New Ban Covers
According to the proclamation signed by Trump late Wednesday, the new measure blocks or limits travel to the United States from:
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Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
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Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Myanmar
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And adds heightened restrictions for: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
The administration claims this is necessary to protect national security, citing a report developed by the Departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence. But local organizations argue that these justifications lack merit.
“It’s smoke and mirrors,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago. “There is no evidence that birthplace determines behavior other than in racist textbooks.”
Fear of Overreach and Racial Profiling
Though the order exempts green card holders and valid visa holders, groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) warn that past enforcement patterns show abuse and overreach at U.S. ports of entry.
“Our community remembers what happened in 2017 — this is just a broader and more disguised version of the same xenophobic ideology,” said Stephanie Gee of the International Refugee Assistance Project, referencing the original “Muslim ban.”
Legal advocates are also urging immigrants to consult attorneys and avoid nonessential travel until the ban’s enforcement clarity is tested.
Linked to Recent ICE Detentions in Chicago
The policy announcement came just days after ICE agents detained immigrants outside a DHS office in Chicago’s South Loop, prompting protests involving local aldermen, including Anthony Quezada, who was reportedly shoved by federal agents during the demonstration.
“The overall message from the Trump administration is that immigrants are not welcome here,” said Grace Pai, director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago. “Our communities would not be what they are without immigrants.”
Echoes of the 2017 Ban
Trump’s latest move draws immediate comparisons to the 2017 executive order banning travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, which sparked protests nationwide and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in a revised form.
President Joe Biden rescinded that travel ban in 2021 upon taking office, calling it un-American. But with Trump now escalating restrictions again, many say this is a clear revival of the same exclusionary playbook — just under different branding.
“They’re using the framework of the Muslim ban and expanding it to new countries. It’s discriminatory. It’s nakedly racist,” said Gee.
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