## Eight Years of Waiting, Dashed Hopes: A Congolese Family’s Refugee Story

For eight agonizing years, Mama Jolie clutched onto hope, a fragile lifeline stretching across continents. Separated from her children in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to brutal conflict and persecution, she navigated the labyrinthine refugee system, clinging to the dream of reunion. Finally, after years of interviews, paperwork, and bureaucratic hurdles, that dream felt within reach. She was on the verge of joining her family, who had already resettled in the United States, a beacon of safety and opportunity. Then, January happened.

In January 2017, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13769, commonly known as the “travel ban” or “Muslim ban,” which temporarily halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and restricted entry for citizens of several predominantly Muslim countries. While the DRC wasn’t initially on the list of banned countries, the overall suspension of the program had a devastating impact on countless individuals like Mama Jolie. Her travel was indefinitely postponed.

Imagine the rollercoaster of emotions. The elation of knowing your children – the faces you haven’t seen age in real-time, the voices you only hear through crackling phone lines – were just weeks away. The promise of warm embraces, whispered stories, and the simple comfort of being a family again. Then, the gut-wrenching realization that this promise, so carefully nurtured, was being ripped away.

Mama Jolie’s story, while deeply personal, is not unique. Thousands of refugees around the world, individuals fleeing war, persecution, and unimaginable hardship, were caught in the crosshairs of the policy change. Their lives, already marked by trauma and loss, were further complicated by uncertainty and despair.

The impact of these policy changes extends beyond individual heartbreak. They have ripple effects on resettlement agencies, straining their resources and forcing them to navigate constantly shifting guidelines. They also affect communities across the U.S. that welcome refugees, losing out on the rich cultural contributions and economic benefits these newcomers bring.

While the legal battles surrounding refugee policy continue to evolve, Mama Jolie’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of these decisions. It’s a call to remember the faces and stories behind the statistics, and to advocate for a more compassionate and humane approach to refugee resettlement. It’s a call to not let hope be dashed, but instead, to champion the enduring power of family and the promise of a better future for all.