Syrians Rejoice at Being Exempted from Trump Travel Ban

New York Times

2 days ago

During his first term, President Trump included Syria in a series of travel bans targeting mostly Muslim-majority nations, branding refugees from the war-ravaged country as requiring 'extreme vetting' to protect national security.
The impact was immediate: flights were canceled, refugee resettlements were halted, and families were separated.
But on Wednesday, Syria was exempted from Mr. Trump's new travel ban, representing another sign of the seismic shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the country after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the former president, in December.
Syria was one of only four countries that were blacklisted in Mr. Trump's first term that were excluded this time around, alongside Iraq, North Korea and Nigeria.
For many Syrians, the news added to a growing sense of optimism about the country's future as it emerges from years of war and decades of authoritarian dictatorship.
'This is something that brings hope for the future, especially for the younger generation,' said Lina Habshi as she shopped in Damascus to prepare for Eid al-Adha, a major religious holiday. 'My daughter was studying chemistry, but opportunities were limited here. Now she might be able to travel and grow in her field.'
Her 16-year-old daughter, Rama, echoed Ms. Habshi's sentiment. 'I feel like the government's actions are changing how Syrians are viewed,' she said. 'Now we have a presence outside our country.'
For decades, the United States treated Syria as a pariah. That position hardened following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 and the subsequent rise of the Islamic State, a terrorist group that seized parts of the country and carried out attacks overseas.
But in recent months, the Trump administration has sought better relations. Mr. Trump lifted some sanctions on Syria last month and held talks with the new president, Ahmed al-Shara, a former rebel commander with past links to Al Qaeda. It was the first time the leaders of the two countries had met in 25 years.
The new Syrian government has pledged to restore stability after more than a decade of war. In return, Washington has sought to leverage the promise of a rapprochement with a number of demands, including the expulsion of 'foreign terrorists' from Syria and guarantees that the Islamic State will not be allowed to gain more power, according to the White House.
For many Syrians, the travel ban exemption was another sign that the country was once again being accepted by the wider world after decades of isolation.
'We're so happy,' said Tahani Madani, an employee at Syria's largest commercial bank. 'Honestly, it's hard to even describe our joy. Thank God, things are getting better.'