On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a proclamation imposing immigration and travel restrictions for people from 12 different countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. The President’s proclamation contains a number of harmful racial stereotypes and makes especially egregious comments about Haitian communities. The ban is set to take effect on June 9, 2025.
Karla McKanders, Director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute at Legal Defense Fund (LDF) issued the following statement about yesterday’s announcement:
“This newest rendition of the Trump administration’s travel ban is a gross resurgence of discriminatory policies that target Black and Brown immigrants under the guise of national security. In reality, the ban echoes some the darkest chapters of American history, where fear and prejudice were institutionalized through policies that targeted specific racial and religious groups. We call on the courts to diligently scrutinize and block this ban.
“The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the systemic discrimination against Black Americans during the Jim Crow era were all justified by unfounded stereotypes and baseless fears. Similarly, this ban perpetuates harmful stereotypes about people from Black and Brown countries and belies the American ideals of freedom and justice for all. The president’s comments are the same egregious style of rhetoric that led to violence against the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio.
“Under the first Trump Administration, LDF partnered with organizations seeking to block his harmful bans against immigrants, and we will continue to stand firm that his action is both unnecessary and discriminatory given the already-extensive travel and immigration laws of the United States.”
To learn more about the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on Black immigrants, please explore these resources:
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
