PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Condemns Discriminatory Travel Ban and Expanded Targeting of Afghan and Somali Immigrants
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 12/10/25) – The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemns the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration freeze — including the pause and expanded vetting of applications for visas, green cards, asylum, and citizenship from 19 countries — and the new national‑security measures by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security said she expects the list to expand to over 30 countries sometime in the near future.
The ban and associated enforcement actions target immigrants from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Chicago Communities Under Threat
Chicago’s immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities — including Afghans, Somalis, Sudanese, and others — face renewed fear and uncertainty. In recent months, aggressive enforcement such as “Operation Midway Blitz” have scarred local families and workers, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods. Legal proceedings and community reports are now revealing wrongful arrests, excessive use of force, and mis‑handled detentions — including video evidence showing misconduct during federal raids. This climate of fear, surveillance, and racial profiling now combines with sweeping visa freezes to deepen trauma within our city.
What’s happening in Minneapolis, Minn. with the Somali community is a continuation of targeting specific communities as scapegoats while the federal administration fails to improve just about any aspect of the quality of life for Americans. Recent hateful, dehumanizing remarks by President Trump — branding Somali immigrants as “garbage,” claiming they “contribute nothing,” and calling for their removal from the country — are not isolated political posturing but an orchestrated, politically motivated campaign of vilification and exclusion. CAIR also welcomed the firing of a Cinnabon worker who reportedly went on a racist anti-Muslim rant targeting a Somali-American couple.
Chicago stands in full solidarity with Somali‑American and Afghan-American residents. Though the communities here is small, estimates still list hundreds of Somali‑Americans and thousands of Afghan-American’s among Chicago’s diverse immigrant population. Since President Trump took office, hate and Islamophobia have risen, including threats to Afghan families — such as notes left at a Skokie, IL home earlier this year stating, "President Donald Trump deportation is coming for you."
Sayeda Qader, Founder of Kalaam Project, said
Anti-Afghan sentiment has intensified in the wake of the National Guard shooting, and Afghan refugee families in the Chicagoland area are already living in fear due to the heightened ICE presence. Many Afghans, including allies who were promised safety, have had their immigration applications stuck in backlogs for months with no movement. They’ve been waiting so long for progress on their asylum and SIV cases that their humanitarian parole visas have expired, leaving them undocumented. This has created a climate of fear and uncertainty for a community that came here seeking protection and stability after the U.S. withdrawal. However, they have only received half promises and more threats of a US return.”
CAIR‑Chicago Legal Director Heena Musabji:
These nationality-based visa freezes and immigration suspension are not only unlawful, they are a moral disgrace. They rob hardworking immigrant families in Chicago of their right to live, work, and raise their children free from fear. We will challenge these measures relentlessly – in the courts, in Congress, and in public – until dignity and justice are restored for every community.”
Just as other chapters of CAIR have done, CAIR‑Chicago stands proudly with the Somali community, Afghan families, Sudanese, Venezuelan, and all immigrants who enrich our city. Our mission — to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote understanding — demands no less.
We urge anyone impacted by these bans or enforcement operations to reach out for legal support and solidarity:
CAIR‑Chicago Know Your Rights portal: cairchicago.org/protectingyourrights
Travelers Assistance Project (24/7): register your flight at TAPUS.org BEFORE travel
Immigration support: cairchicago.org/get-immigration-help
Asylum support: cairchicago.org/get-asylum-help
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com | Heena Musabji, Legal Director of CAIR-Chicago, 312-212-1520, hmusabji@cair.com | Hafsa Haider, Communications Director of CAIR-Chicago, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com
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