Orlando Democrat Anna Eskamani, who’s Iranian-American, said she worries she won’t be able to see her aging grandmother before she passes.
“It is a very difficult reality for many of us, where we are navigating conflict in these homelands that are dictorial in nature, that make it difficult already to survive, and for folks who are fleeing that to achieve the American dream, it is heartbreaking and unAmerican that they cannot do that,” Eskamani said.
Trump issued a proclamation late Wednesday barring the entry of people from a dozen countries, including Iran, and partially restricting entry of nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Florida is home to the largest population of Cubans, Venezuelans, and Haitians in the country.
The travel ban proclamation, which cited national security concerns, goes into effect on Monday.
The Democrats, who are in the superminority at the state Legislature, said Congress needed to be held accountable, particularly Florida’s Republican delegation.
“At least within the Haitian community, ever since on the campaign trail, this administration has been targeting Haitians, and it’s turned its back on Cubans as well,” said North Miami Democratic Rep. Dottie Joseph, of Haiti.
Seminole Republican Rep. Berny Jacques, who is from Haiti, supports the Trump administration’s policy.
“It is essential for our nation’s sovereignty and security,” he wrote to Florida Phoenix.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
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This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2025.