Refugee Stories In Response To Trump's Travel Ban

A promising young student gets hired for an exciting new job; now he's out of options. A man with a green card heads to his country of birth for a visit; will he be able to come back home? When President Trump signed an executive order on Friday to halt the entire United States refugee program for 120 days, the implications of his decision were far-reaching. To really understand the depth of the cruelty and intolerance of his decision, read these refugee stories in response to Trump's travel ban.

President Trump's executive order did not actually name Muslims within the context, but instead focused on "terrorist-prone" countries that all happened to be Muslim-majority countries. Seven in total, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. The order for a 30-day ban on new entries from these "terrorist-prone" countries was met with swift, fierce criticism from around the globe (from notables like former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Nobel Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and Mark Zuckerburg), but it turns out the executive order was significantly more severe than first suspected. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security told Pro Publica that the order will include green card holders from all seven countries who could potentially be travelling abroad:

It will bar green card holders.

In response to Trump's executive order, people have been taking to Twitter under the #muslimban to share the awful effect a refugee travel ban is having not only on their life, but the lives of their loved ones.

There are some who might not be able to find their way home because of Trump's Muslim ban (let's call it what it really is, shall we?).

There were sobering stories of families whose dreams of a life together are shattered for the foreseeable future.

Some who are pointing out how far we have to fall if we continue on this trajectory.

Other Twitter users wanted to remind people of the ways we have benefited from some Muslim immigrants. Particularly those typing out messages on their iPhones.

While President Trump called forth the 9/11 attacks as a means of justifying the executive order, some savvy tweeters weren't going to let him away with that.

Refugees who found solace and safety within the United States also shared their stories.

The reality is, this executive order to ban refugees from Muslim countries could affect hundreds of thousands of people. Families will be separated, refugees will be denied safe haven, and innocent lives will be lost.

But Trump is following through with his xenophobic agenda. So I guess that's all that matters.