Trump’s travel ban separates Syrian couple

damascus — When Syrian law graduate Adel first saw the visa for the United States in his passport, he could hardly believe he would finally be joining his wife in New York.

“I kept wiping my eyes to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” says Adel.

But Adel’s life was turned upside down when US President Donald Trump imposed a 90-day ban on Friday on travellers from several countries including Syria.

“It was such a shock. I never thought it would be so hard to get a visa for the United States. I got it, but now it’s not worth anything,” says the 25-year-old from Damascus, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.

It took Adel a year of phone calls and five trips to the US embassy in neighbouring Lebanon to obtain the visa after his wife Lamia sent him an official invitation.

The US embassy in Syria closed after the start of the nearly sixyear war that has killed more than 310,000 people. After receiving the visa two weeks ago, he was supposed to finally travel to reunite with her in the United States a year after their wedding in Syria. Lamia, 22, lives in New York city by herself after her American father and Syrian mother separated.

“I’m so confused. My feet were supposed to touch down in the land of my dreams in just days, but now I’m still here,” says Adel.

Adel says he fell in love with the country by watching Hollywood films and hearing stories from relatives. “Going to America is a dream for any young guy my age”. Adel says he follows the news avidly, hoping the order will be cancelled, and speaks to Lamia every day.

“My wife is the other one who’s depressed. A whole year of efforts and waiting, and now we won’t even meet,” he says.

“The distance between us has become enormous.” Trump faced fresh protests on Monday over his ban on travellers from seven Muslim majority countries entering the United States.

Besides Syria, the other countries included in the ban are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Trump says the measures, introduced just a week after he became president, will make America safe from “radical terrorists”. —