Columbus agency says travel ban impedes refugees from family reunification
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus has become a second home for thousands of refugees fleeing countries included in President Donald Trump's travel ban, many of whom now worry about family left behind.
"It is painful to see doors close on those who have already faced so much,” central Ohio refugee agency employee Dianna Russell said.
Russell is the director of institutional advancement, marketing and communications for central Ohio refugee resettlement agency Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, a Columbus nonprofit that helps refugees and immigrants from more than 90 countries establish roots in central Ohio. According to state data, nearly 1,300 refugees moved to Columbus in 2024. More than 1,000 came from countries that are fully or partially banned indefinitely.
Effective June 9, Trump banned new arrivals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Loas, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela are severely limited.
People who were granted asylum or refugee status before the ban took effect are not included in the ban. Refugees and asylum seekers differ from immigrants, although they may share similar experiences depending on their situations. Refugees and asylum seekers ask for protection because of dangers in their home countries, and are approved to seek safety in the U.S. after lengthy federal background checks.
Russell said that although the restrictions do not suspend refugee resettlement, they could limit or stop reunification with family members still abroad.
"Clients who have worked hard to build a future in the United States now fear that loved ones will not be able to join them," Russell said. "Others who had hoped to bring aging parents, spouses or children to safety may now face indefinite delays or denials.”
In 2024, Ohio accepted refugees from 11 of the 19 countries under full or partial bans, primarily from the Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan. In Columbus, refugees mostly came from Somalia (301 refugees arriving in 2024), Afghanistan (294) and the Republic of the Congo (246).
Trump provided reasons for banning entry from each country. Trump said Somalia is banned for not having appropriate screening measures and a lack of centralized control, Afghanistan is banned for the Taliban's influence and the Republic of the Congo is banned for high rates of overstaying visas. Russell said the reasons for the travel bans are the same reasons many refugees came to the U.S. in the first place.
“The emotional toll is especially heavy for those with family members still in areas affected by violence, conflict or humanitarian crises," Russell said.
Columbus has the second-largest Somali population in the U.S., with an estimated 60,000 Somali immigrants. Most Somali-born Columbus residents are refugees, escaping a 30-year civil war compounded by natural disasters.
Somalia was also included in Trump's 2017 travel ban. At the time, Somali refugee Amina Ibrahim told NBC4 that her 5-year-old son was stuck in a refugee camp in Uganda, and the travel ban prevented him from reuniting with family members.
Haitian immigrants are also included, just months after making headlines when Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance helped perpetuate rumors about Haitian residents in Springfield on the campaign trail. City, county and state officials have repeatedly said the claims were false and unfounded.
Columbus residents have been vocal in supporting immigrants and refugees, with hundreds rallying Tuesday night to oppose ICE raids. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther's office said the city "strongly opposes" the travel ban, believing it "targets" individuals based on their country of origin or religion.
"These policies do not reflect our values and undermine the strength that diversity brings to our communities," Ginther's office said. "We remain committed to our values, to being a welcoming city and to protecting the well-being and safety of everyone who lives in our city."
Other elected officials disagree. Speaking to Fox News, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said the ban will help protect Americans.
"These countries are basically failed nations, they have no ability to vet who's leaving their country," Moreno said. "We're not going to put American citizens in jeopardy."
NBC4 asked Moreno, a Colombian immigrant, about these comments and about the ban's effect on American-born Ohioans and the 5.3% of the state who were born abroad. Moreno did not respond to the inquiry.