## Eight Years of Waiting, Dashed by a Stroke of a Pen: A Congolese Family’s Heartbreak

For eight long years, Beatrice had clung to the hope of reunion. Separated from her family by unimaginable circumstances after fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she had endured the arduous process of refugee resettlement, navigating a system often described as labyrinthine. Finally, after years of paperwork, interviews, and agonizing waiting, her dream was within reach. She was just days away from boarding a plane to the United States, where she would embrace her children and grandchildren once more.

Then, in January of 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the refugee program.

Beatrice’s story, while anonymized for her protection, echoes the experiences of countless other refugees whose lives were irrevocably altered by the travel ban. The order, officially titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” initially suspended refugee admissions for 120 days and drastically cut the number of refugees allowed into the country annually. For Beatrice, and families like hers, it meant a devastating pause – a potential end – to their reunification journey.

Imagine the emotional rollercoaster. The years of trauma, the relentless hope, the bureaucratic hurdles overcome, all culminating in the crushing realization that a policy decision, made thousands of miles away, could shatter their world. For many, the wait wasn’t just prolonged; it felt indefinite. The rug had been pulled out from under them, leaving them stranded in displacement, unsure of their future and separated from the loved ones they desperately sought to rejoin.

The impact of policies like the 2017 travel ban extends far beyond mere statistics. They represent real human stories, shattered dreams, and lives put on hold. Beatrice’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of restrictive immigration policies and the enduring hope of those seeking a safe haven and the embrace of family after years of unimaginable hardship. While the ban has evolved over time, its legacy continues to impact refugee resettlement programs and the lives of those most vulnerable. We must remember that behind every policy, there are faces, families, and futures hanging in the balance.