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President Trump issued a proclamation going into effect today, June 9, that restricts travel to the U.S. for nationals of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia, Venezuela, and other nationalities that KOM serves. We at KOM mourn this decision, which will cause further harm and suffering to thousands of people who are trying to flee persecution and reunite with their families.
The 2021 military coup in Burma has led to ongoing civil unrest that has made the country an unsafe place to live. KOM has been advocating for the U.S. government to reopen resettlement for people from Burma and to extend humanitarian protections to people who have come to the U.S. on visas and cannot safely return home.
KOM has welcomed hundreds of Afghan refugees since 2021. Many of the people coming from Afghanistan are endangered because of their past support of the U.S. government. While the President’s proclamation carves out an exception for Special Immigrant Visa recipients, this represents only a small fraction of Afghans who have come to the U.S., and people who come on SIVs often must leave their families behind.
We call on community leaders, advocates, and elected officials to stand united in opposing this unjust policy that targets some of the most vulnerable populations globally. Individuals each have a story, and harm comes when policies restrict groups based on nationality or religion. America’s strength lies in its diversity, and policies like this only serve to divide and dehumanize.
Published June 9th, 2025 by the Karen Organization of Minnesota
