Refugees, travelers await family reunions amid doubt

Author: Associated Press
Published: Updated:
Islamic Center for Peace Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani, right, poses with his son, a U.S. Army captain who’s currently in Syria. President Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim majority countries has left the younger Al-Darsani in limbo as he waits to return to the U.S. (Submitted photo)

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) From married couples to mothers and daughters, President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel from certain countries has created profound uncertainty for families in America and abroad. Many refugees in the U.S. had expected to reunite with their relatives any day, but will now have to wait.

Trump’s order temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.

A family kept apart

Islamic Center for Peace Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani, right, poses with his son, a U.S. Army captain who he says is determined to uphold the Constitution, whether or not the White House does the same. President Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim majority countries has left members of the Al-Darsani family in limbo as they wait to return to the U.S. (Submitted photo)

A Fort Myers imam won’t be able to see cousins and other family for at least 90 days.

“They’re green card holders and they went for a visit and this thing happened,” said Mohamed Al-Darsani, who runs the Islamic Center for Peace on 2056 Linhart Ave. “And now they think they’re in limbo.”

The Islamic center is available as a resource for those separated from their loved ones, Al-Darsani said. He has faith that the issue will be resolved quickly and hopes others in the predicament share the same perspective.

“Do not despair — thank God we have a system that’s capable of correcting itself,” he said.

Al-Darsani also has a message for the president.

“We’ll be with you as long as you are right and we’ll be against you if you break the law,” he said.

Al-Darsani said his son, a U.S. Army captain, is determined to uphold the Constitution, whether or not the White House does the same.

Hear more from Al-Darsani in this video report from WINK News reporter John-Carlos Estrada:

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