Feds Under Fire for Visa Ban Aimed at 75 Nations, Critics Say It's Racist and Unfair
A group of Americans, including New Yorkers with ties to countries such as Ghana, Jamaica, and Guatemala, are suing the Trump administration over its recent visa ban targeting nationals from 75 predominantly non-white nations. The plaintiffs claim that the policy is based on false assumptions about immigrants relying on public assistance, a notion they say has no basis in fact.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that the government's decision to pause processing visas for people from these countries is an attempt to limit immigration of non-white individuals and mask its racist undertones. The plaintiffs point to President Trump's history of derogatory comments about immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and predominantly Muslim nations as evidence.
The visa ban was announced in January by the Department of State, citing concerns that migrants from these countries "take welfare" from American taxpayers at "unacceptable rates." However, critics argue that this claim is baseless and motivated by racial hostility.
One plaintiff, Agnes Kyeremaa, a U.S. citizen living in New York City, had four adult sons and daughters who were approved for visas but saw them rescinded due to her Ghanaian nationality. The complaint states that Kyeremaa has never relied on government aid and pays local, state, and federal taxes just like other Americans.
Another plaintiff, Patricia Richardson, a Bronx resident, had her sister's visa approval revoked because Jamaica is one of the banned nations. Despite earning a steady income and supporting herself and her family financially, Richardson was denied entry to the United States.
The lawsuit seeks to block the visa ban, declare it "unauthorized" under U.S. law and the Constitution, and award the plaintiffs attorney fees and other relief. The legal challenge is the latest in a string of immigration-related lawsuits against the Trump administration's efforts to limit non-white immigration.
Civil Rights Groups Slam Visa Ban as Racist
Deputy executive director of policy and advocacy at African Communities Together, Diana Konate, described the visa ban as "yet another unlawful and racist policy" from the Trump administration that disproportionately harms Africans seeking to immigrate to the United States.
A group of Americans, including New Yorkers with ties to countries such as Ghana, Jamaica, and Guatemala, are suing the Trump administration over its recent visa ban targeting nationals from 75 predominantly non-white nations. The plaintiffs claim that the policy is based on false assumptions about immigrants relying on public assistance, a notion they say has no basis in fact.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that the government's decision to pause processing visas for people from these countries is an attempt to limit immigration of non-white individuals and mask its racist undertones. The plaintiffs point to President Trump's history of derogatory comments about immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and predominantly Muslim nations as evidence.
The visa ban was announced in January by the Department of State, citing concerns that migrants from these countries "take welfare" from American taxpayers at "unacceptable rates." However, critics argue that this claim is baseless and motivated by racial hostility.
One plaintiff, Agnes Kyeremaa, a U.S. citizen living in New York City, had four adult sons and daughters who were approved for visas but saw them rescinded due to her Ghanaian nationality. The complaint states that Kyeremaa has never relied on government aid and pays local, state, and federal taxes just like other Americans.
Another plaintiff, Patricia Richardson, a Bronx resident, had her sister's visa approval revoked because Jamaica is one of the banned nations. Despite earning a steady income and supporting herself and her family financially, Richardson was denied entry to the United States.
The lawsuit seeks to block the visa ban, declare it "unauthorized" under U.S. law and the Constitution, and award the plaintiffs attorney fees and other relief. The legal challenge is the latest in a string of immigration-related lawsuits against the Trump administration's efforts to limit non-white immigration.
Civil Rights Groups Slam Visa Ban as Racist
Deputy executive director of policy and advocacy at African Communities Together, Diana Konate, described the visa ban as "yet another unlawful and racist policy" from the Trump administration that disproportionately harms Africans seeking to immigrate to the United States.
I mean, come on! This is what's happening in our country right now? We're talking about 75 nations being targeted with a visa ban, and it's all based on some racist assumptions about immigrants taking welfare? That's just not fair to people like Agnes Kyeremaa, who has never even received government aid. And what about Patricia Richardson, who was denied entry because her sister is from Jamaica? That's straight-up xenophobia. I'm so tired of politicians using immigration as a way to distract us from real issues while they're really just trying to keep people out based on the color of their skin. 
It's not acceptable, and we need to stand up against it. We should be welcoming diversity and creating opportunities for everyone, not perpetuating racism in our government policies. 
. 75 nations, all targeted because of their skin color... it's just not right 
. I remember back in the day, my cousin's aunt from Jamaica came to visit and she was treated like royalty 
. Now, she can't even get a visa? 
It's like we're living in some kind of segregationist nightmare 
.
It's just unfair 
.
. We're not talking about people committing crimes or anything like that... we're talking about folks who are trying to build a new life in America. Can't we just treat everyone with some basic human decency? 
I think this is really unfair 
. It's like they're making assumptions about people based on their nationality or where they're from. Like, just because someone is from a certain country doesn't mean they're gonna rely on public assistance or take advantage of the system. That's not how it works 
. They pay taxes, contribute to society, and do their part to be good citizens. But just because they're from a different country, we get this kind of treatment? It's not right 
, they just want a better life for themselves and their families. And what's with the whole "taking welfare" narrative? That's not even close to true!
. It's time to hold our government accountable for its actions and make sure that we're not perpetuating systemic racism.
. We need more people speaking out against this kind of nonsense and demanding better from our government.
they r just tryin 2 keep out ppl from non-white countries & mask it behind fake news 
its so unfair to people like Agnes & Patricia who r good ppl tryna make a life 4 themselves & their families 
The recent visa ban targeting 75 nations is super concerning! It's like they're making assumptions about people based on their nationality, which is just not fair. I mean, have you seen those documentaries about how immigrants contribute to our economy? 
It's all about diversifying our workforce and adding unique perspectives to the table. The fact that they're trying to limit immigration of non-white individuals just because of their skin color is, like, so sad. 
I'm not surprised by this move, though - we've seen some pretty racist stuff come out of the Trump administration before.
Let's show them that we care about equality and fairness for everyone, no matter where they're from. 
. We need to stand up for people's rights and fight against racism in all its forms 
.
what's next, a ban on tacos or something lmao 
no way, i'm all about diversity and inclusion here 
we should be welcoming people from all over the world with open arms, not making it harder for them to come here 
and stereotyping people based on their skin color. newsflash: immigrants are just trying to chase the American dream, same as anyone else. and btw, what's with all these false claims about immigrants relying on public assistance? that's just not true 
we should be celebrating diversity and supporting people from all walks of life, not restricting their access to visas based on skin color or nationality. 
it's time for some common sense and empathy 
This policy is basically a racist power grab that's going to hurt good people on both sides of the Atlantic 
️
. And it's not just about the food, we could have this whole immersive experience where they transport you to each country where the toppings are from... sounds kinda far-fetched, I know 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good homemade pizza, right? And have you ever noticed how much more flavorful the sauce tastes when it's made fresh instead of buying that pre-made stuff from the store?