North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme has issued a strong statement opposing the reinstatement of the U.S. travel ban, which includes restrictions on several countries, among them Haiti.
Haiti is one of 12 countries facing a full suspension of entry to the United States. Cuba, meanwhile, is among seven countries facing partial travel restrictions, specifically targeting immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
“As Mayor of the City of North Miami, I am deeply concerned about the recent reinstatement of the travel ban signed by President Donald Trump, which includes renewed restrictions on several countries, including Haiti,” Desulme, who is Haitian-American, said in the statement.
Home to one of the largest Haitian-American communities in the U.S., North Miami has long celebrated its Haitian residents as key contributors to the city’s identity and progress. “Our Haitian residents are not just residents; they are the backbone of our city—leaders, small business owners, healthcare workers, educators, and parents raising the next generation of changemakers,” Desulme noted.
Calling the policy a “direct attack” on American values, Desulme condemned the ban for the fear and hardship it imposes. “The reinstatement of this ban is a direct attack on the values of equity, compassion, and opportunity that our City and this nation were built upon. It causes fear, separates families, disrupts lives, and unfairly targets communities that have long contributed to the country’s strength and prosperity.”
Reaffirming North Miami’s support for its Haitian population, the mayor pledged continued advocacy for equitable and humane immigration policies. “In North Miami, we stand firmly with our Haitian community. We will continue to raise our voices and advocate for policies that promote equity, dignity, and humane immigration practices. Our City supports every effort to challenge discriminatory actions that divide rather than unite us.”
Mayor Desulme concluded by urging federal leaders to reconsider the travel ban and pursue immigration reforms “that reflect our shared values and honor the dignity of all individuals.”
Other Florida representatives, like Haitian-American Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, have also issued statements condemning the travel ban.
