‘I can’t visit the person I love’: Muslim ban dividing Australians from their families

MANY Australians have had their lives turned upside down by Donald Trump’s immigration ban. For one Sydney woman, it’s dredged up memories of a family tragedy.

DONALD Trump’s ban on travel to the US by citizens of seven Muslim countries will have far-reaching consequences, with Australians revealing it has already affected their lives.

Sydney writer Mireille Juchau posted a powerful tweet calling on Malcolm Turnbull to speak out against the visa restrictions, sharing an image of the letter denying her grandparents asylum in Australia — after which they were killed in a concentration camp.

“After my great grandparents were denied asylum in Aust they were murdered in Auschwitz,” she wrote. “@TurnbullMalcolm please speak out against #MuslimBan.”

Hussein Haraco, a dual citizen who was born in Somalia and lives in Melbourne, said he may have to cancel a planned trip to see his stepmother, who lives in Houston, Texas.

“We are really disappointed,” the 51-year-old told news.com.au. “It’s dividing the family, it looks like I can’t visit my family member, the person I love.

After my great grandparents were denied asylum in Aust they were murdered in Auschwitz. @TurnbullMalcolm please speak out against #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/cr63PMJA1z

— Mireille Juchau (@MireilleJuchau) January 28, 2017

“She just got a green card last month. I wanted to visit her and take her to Africa. If I go and take her, she couldn’t come back.”

Dr Haraco, secretary of the Somali Australian Council of Victoria, said he didn’t think Donald Trump would go through with such a radical plan if he became President.

“In the election campaign he talked about the issue, but I thought he was bluffing, now it seems he was serious.”

The Somali-born Australian hasn’t seen his stepmother in two years. “She’s worried about what’s happening, but can’t do anything,” he said.

“It’s not only me it’s affecting, it’s lots of people in Australia. I want to write to the Prime Minister and see what the government’s position is.”

Hana Assafiri, a Muslim woman from Melbourne, said she won’t risk going to New York for a conference.

Hana Assafiri, a Muslim restaurateur who owns Moroccan Deli-cacy and Moroccan Soup Kitchen in Melbourne, was supposed to travel to New York in March for an international conference on women but said she would no longer go, in part because of her fears at what could happen to her.

“I would not put myself in that predicament,” she told news.com.au. “I wouldn’t risk it or risk my livelihood at the discretion of an erratic administration. I’m a woman, a political activist and a Muslim.

“During an era of hostile Islamophobia, those who bear the brunt are women.

“I absolutely wouldn’t place myself in harm’s way where the discretion is left to the most bigoted mindset.”

But she said it was also “an active protest” against Mr Trump. “I’ll introduce my own sanctions,” she said.

Mr Trump signed an executive order on Friday temporarily suspending the entry of citizens of Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen into the US for at least 90 days, a move he billed as an effort to make America safe from “radical Islamic terrorists”.

The British Foreign Office yesterday obtained clarification that “if you are travelling to the US from anywhere other than one of those countries (for instance, the UK) the executive order does not apply to you and you will experience no extra checks regardless of your nationality or your place of birth.”

Donald Trump speaks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after temporarily banning the entry of citizens of seven Muslim countries into the US. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

If this is accurate, Dr Haraco might be able to visit his stepmother, as long as he did not take her to visit their country of origin.

But the government’s Smarttraveller website says Australians who have travelled to any of the seven nations since March 2011 are not allowed to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), the mandatory security check needed for entry to the US.

Australians who are dual citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria are also not allowed to apply for the standard electronic travel authorisation. This includes government officials or defence force members, although there may be case-by-case exceptions made for some who travelled on official government, humanitarian, business, journalism or defence purposes.

Those affected will have to apply for a non-immigrant visa in person at a US embassy or consulate, at least three months in advance of travel, meaning will already be too late for some to make planned trips.

“Any of these Australians who have previously been issued an ESTA are likely to have the ESTA revoked,” read the Smarttraveller website.

Australian technology companies have voiced concern the changes will impact their employees and businesses, calling on the federal government to condemn the visa changes.

“There were yesterday at least four or five people with businesses in the US who travel regularly there, that just were not sure about the status of themselves and family members,” said TechSydney’s Dean McEvoy.

HotelsCombined CEO Hichame Assi, a dual national British-Syrian who moved to Australia in 2008, said he couldn’t travel to the US for the next 90 days even though he had a valid visa.

“We employ people of all nationalities, including dual-nationality Australians,” Mr Assi said in a statement on Monday.

“These developments in the US are not only disruptive to our business and our people, they’re very troubling and are creating more tensions at a time when empathy is required.”

The confusion over who is banned continued today, with the Trump administration backing away from including permanent residents.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Australian embassy in Washington was in talks with US counterparts to get clarity on how the temporary ban would affect Australian dual nationals.

She warned rules could change at short notice. “Travellers should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the United States for the most current information,” the spokeswoman added.

Are you affected by the travel ban? Email [e-mail].

— With wires