## Dreams Deferred: How the 2017 Refugee Ban Shattered One Congolese Family’s Reunion

For eight long years, Mwanza awaited the day she could embrace her children again. Separated by war and displacement, the Congolese refugee had endured unimaginable hardships to finally secure resettlement in the United States. The paperwork was complete, the flights were booked, and a new life in America beckoned – a beacon of hope after years of trauma and uncertainty. Then, in January 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13769, often referred to as the “Travel Ban,” effectively halting the U.S. refugee program.

Suddenly, Mwanza’s carefully constructed future crumbled. The reunion she had dreamt of, the promise of safety and stability for her children, vanished in the stroke of a pen. The ban, which targeted refugees from several Muslim-majority countries and temporarily suspended the entire refugee program, left countless families stranded, their lives suspended in a terrifying limbo.

Mwanza’s story, sadly, became emblematic of the chaos and heartbreak caused by the policy. While initially conceived as a measure to enhance national security, the travel ban had devastating human consequences, tearing apart families and disrupting the lives of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge from violence and persecution. The legal challenges and subsequent revisions to the executive order only prolonged the uncertainty and anxiety for refugees like Mwanza.

The emotional toll on Mwanza was immense. Already burdened by the trauma of war and separation, she now faced the crushing disappointment of having her dreams snatched away at the very last moment. The years of painstaking effort, the endless interviews, the mountains of paperwork – all seemed to have been in vain.

While the legal battles surrounding the travel ban have largely concluded, the scars it left on families like Mwanza’s remain. The experience serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact of immigration policy on individual lives and the enduring importance of empathy and compassion in shaping our nation’s response to the global refugee crisis. It highlights the need for nuanced policies that prioritize both security and the humanitarian principles upon which the United States was founded. Mwanza’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, but also a poignant call for a more humane and just approach to refugee resettlement.