Miami International Airport has become a hub of emotional reunions and uncertainty as South Florida travelers react to the recent travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
The ban, officially set to take effect on Monday, will fully target citizens from 12 countries, including Haiti, while heightened restrictions will be imposed on nations such as Cuba and Venezuela.
As 7News cameras captured heartwarming scenes at the airport, the Saldizar family celebrated a long-awaited reunion. Miriam, a family member who had just arrived from Cuba after receiving a five-year visa, was overwhelmed with emotion and unable to speak on camera.
Her granddaughter, Leia, expressed the bittersweet nature of the occasion, noting that this reunion came after 12 years of separation. Leia revealed that her grandmother was one of the last people to have her visa approved, which added to the weight of the moment.
While the family shared in their joy, they, like many travelers, were left grappling with apprehension about the future.
Leia voiced her concerns, uncertain about what would happen once her grandmother’s visa expired. The reality of potentially never seeing her grandmother again hung heavily in the air.
Travelers at the airport voiced mixed feelings about the announcement. One Cuban man, who spoke to 7News while awaiting his wife’s return from Cuba, expressed his worries for her safety.
“I live in Miami. I’m from Cuba. My wife is traveling today over there. I don’t know what will happen when she comes back in three days,” he said, illustrating the uncertainty many families face as a result of the new restrictions.
In stark contrast, another traveler waiting for his mother shared his perspective, adamantly stating that the government’s actions were warranted.
“Cuba is a communist country,” he commented, suggesting that the restrictions were a necessary measure in light of the regime’s oppressive governance.
Meanwhile, at the local Venezuelan restaurant El Pazo in Doral, patron Ziggy Alvero described the travel ban as a detrimental decision impacting families seeking better lives.
“I like Donald Trump. I think he’s doing wrong because, you know, you don’t fix the problem, you just isolate the people. You fix problems when you help people,” Alvero argued, emphasizing the human cost of such policies.
Hopeful sentiments were found among some travelers. Cristiano Barraza remarked, “It is what it is. I just think there’s a process to follow,” attempting to find a silver lining amidst the uncertainty.
The implications of the travel ban prompted reactions from various U.S. legislators.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) stated, “The recent partial travel and visa restrictions imposed on Cuba and Venezuela are a direct result of the failed policies and the broken relationships with the oppressive regimes of Cuba’s Diaz-Canel and Venezuela’s Maduro.”
Another Republican lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, emphasized the necessity of the ban in her comments, asserting, “Let’s be clear: the United States cannot and will not continue to enable these criminal regimes.”
Conversely, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava highlighted the consequences for families, stating, “The travel ban’s end result is families being divided and loved one unable to see each other.”
Levine Cava critiqued the federal government for policies that she believes should focus on border protection and comprehensive immigration reform rather than tearing communities apart.
While the restrictions fully apply to 12 countries, including Haiti, making it impossible for nationals to enter the U.S., activists have condemned these measures as detrimental to immigrant communities.
Tessa Petit, herself a Haitian immigrant and activist, expressed concern about the divisive impact of the ban. “When we’re here, we count on our families to visit us. That’s what keeps us connected, and it’s definitely going to separate our communities again,” she lamented.
Ade Ferro, an immigration activist representing the Venezuelan-American community, similarly criticized the administration’s approach, claiming, “They are trying to stop people from certain countries from even getting to the United States.”
As travelers continue to grapple with the emotional fallout from the travel ban, the realities of immigration policies remain a contentious issue in communities across South Florida.
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