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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's travel ban is more 'sad news' for immigrants in Michigan
President Donald Trump's travel ban that restricts people from 19 nations is being criticized by immigrant advocates and two Congresswomen from Michigan. The ban, which goes into effect Monday, June 9, is aimed at several countries, most of them in the Arab world and Africa. "It's very unfortunate, sad news," Abdulhakem Alsadah, president of the Dearborn-based National Association of Yemeni Americans, Behavioral Health & Community Social Services, told the Free Press Thursday, June 5, the day after Trump signed the executive order banning entry. Alsadah said he wasn't surprised, that he "knew it was coming" based on Trump's earlier statements he would issue another travel ban like he did during his first term. But "it's still a headache" for many in Michigan, he said. Trump's ban, announced late Wednesday, June 4, prohibits people from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also partially restricts and limits the entry of people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Yemeni Americans — who are the largest Middle Eastern group in Detroit, Melvindale, Coldwater and Hamtramck, census data shows — already face challenges because of the war in Yemen that led to the shut down of all U.S. embassies and consulates. Trump's travel ban "will only add to this misery," Alsadah said. Metro Detroit, which has the highest percentage of Arab Americans among regions in the U.S., became an epicenter for challenges to Trump's first travel ban, often referred to as the Muslim travel ban since most of the nations were Muslim-majority nations. Nabih Ayad, a Detroit attorney, filed a federal lawsuit in Detroit in January 2017, shortly after Trump's first ban, on behalf of Muslims unable to travel to the U.S. to be with family members. There were several rallies held by Muslims and progressive groups in Michigan, including one at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus. A federal court ruled in their favor the following month and they got a federal injunction blocking the ban, which was later rescinded by then President Joe Biden in January 2021 shortly after he took office. "I think its sends the wrong message, that America is not open to democracy and freedom," Ayad, the founder and board chairman of the Dearborn-based Arab American Civil Rights League, said of Trump's latest travel ban. It also violates the constitution and will impact families in metro Detroit, he said. More: Border Patrol arrested a Detroit student on a field trip. He now faces deportation. In making his announcement of the travel ban, Trump started his remarks by talking about the firebomb attack in Boulder on June 1 that injured fifteen people taking part in a rally for Israeli hostages. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an immigrant from Egypt who overstayed his visa; he was charged June 5 with 118 criminal counts. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas," Trump said from the White House. "We don't want them. In the 21st century, we've seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world. ... In my first term, my powerful travel restrictions were one of our most successful policies, and they were a key part of preventing major foreign terror attacks on American soil. We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America." But critics said Trump's reasoning has more to do with which countries the U.S. favors in its foreign policy rather than protecting Americans. Ayad noted that the man who carried out the June 1 attack in Boulder was from Egypt, which is not included in the travel ban. "It has nothing to do with national security," Ayad said. U.S. Rep. Rashida Talib, D-Detroit, said the travel ban is rooted in racism. 'It should come as no surprise that Trump's racist travel ban overwhelmingly targets Black and brown people from countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean," Tlaib said in a statement. "These policies are rooted in white nationalism and will only increase hate, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in our country." More: Taylor Police Department is first agency in metro Detroit to sign agreement with ICE Tlaib described Trump as 'the white-supremacist-in-chief" who "has once again issued an unconstitutional travel ban" around the time that Muslims are celebrating a major holiday on Friday, June 6. "This comes as Muslims in our communities and around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha," the Detroit Congresswoman said. "It is a shameful expansion of his hateful Muslim and African ban from his first term." U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, who used to live in Dearborn, also released a statement, saying "Trump's renewed travel ban will not make us safer, it will create more division. It's based on bigotry and xenophobia, just like the last one. U.S. policy should not be guided by hatred. This travel ban should not stand, and we must fight against it." Under Trump's latest travel ban, there are exceptions to the restrictions. People who are still allowed from the 19 nations include: permanent residents of the U.S. known as green card holders, some immediate family members of U.S. citizens, "ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran," Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war with the Taliban, and athletes participating in the "World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State," the order reads. The latest order is more detailed in its rules, which is helpful, but the problem in many cases is implementation, advocates said. Individual officials may not understand the details of the ban and apply a broad brush. Some officials "are not well trained, especially overseas at embassies in specific countries," Alsadah said. "So it's going to be hard for everybody." Christine Sauvé, the head of community engagement and communication for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, agreed with Tlaib that the ban is discriminatory. "The ban again targets Black, brown, and Muslim people who have recently fled places experiencing insecurity and strife," she said. "Many Michiganders have ties to the affected countries and it will sadly affect thousands of innocent people who are trying to reunite with loved ones, travel for college studies, or visit family for the holidays." Sauvé said the ban is the latest move by the Trump administration that cracks down on immigrants in Michigan and other states that is hurting communities and affecting local economies. USA TODAY contributed to this report. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@ X @nwarikoo or Facebook @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Donald Trump's travel ban to impact immigrants in Michigan
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Is that a cat in the Cheetos? New York comedian spotlights the city's famous bodega felines
Growing up in Ridgewood, Queens, the comedian Michelladonna (real name: Michelle Reiss), knew she could always count on seeing Lulu, a black-and-white striped cat, whenever she ran into the corner store for a snack. She counts Lulu as a close confidante, a silent witness to the goings-on of the neighborhood who knows everyone's gossip. 'I have literally gone to Lulu at the end of the night and been like, 'Hey girl, let's talk,'' says Michelladonna, who is 26. 'That's just part of life here: you say hi to the cat, you greet the manager, and then you continue your day.' New York's corner stores – called bodegas anywhere in the five boroughs – are more than just a place to buy beer, coffee and cigarettes. The shops have long served as ad hoc community centers, open 24/7 and every day of the year. Friendly owners know their customers' names, faces and personal dramas. (A recently popular TikTok featured an avuncular bodega owner showing a young woman covert pictures he took of her ex's new girlfriend.) Originally opened by Puerto Rican and Hispanic owners, bodegas are increasingly staffed by Yemeni Americans, and the people who work there represent their neighborhood's cultural makeup. Bodegas are so beloved that when two former Google staffers proposed replacing them with glorified vending machines called 'Bodegas', New Yorkers laughed them out of town. But to Michelladonna, and countless others, there's another reason to visit a bodega: its resident cat. Part vermin control, part mascot, these felines can be seen lounging amid Cheetos bags or roaming by the freezer cases. And while you may only be able to find a bodega cat in New York, their influence has gone global thanks to a host of social media accounts such as @bodegacatsofinstagram (538,000 followers), @bodegacatsofnewyork (46,600 followers) and Shop Cats, a TikTok show hosted by Michelladonna, who 'interviews' these furry workers while highlighting the small businesses where they (unofficially, at times lazily) work. Dan Rimada, who runs @bodegacatsofinstagram, estimated to NPR last month that 'around 30-40%' of bodegas in the city employ these cats. Michelladonna's romps through town have led her to meet Linda, a 'shy little kitty' and orange bodega cat found cleaning herself while lying in a bed of onions at a Bushwick shop. Or Benito, a 'tough guy cat' living in Crown Heights, considered such a boss of the store that he wears his own gold chain. Then there's the 'chonkalicious' Oreo, Rubenesque in form and toddling around a Hell's Kitchen deli. 'We go in and check out the vibes of the cat,' Michelladonna said. 'Sometimes the cats don't want none of it, and we bake that in and make that part of the episode.' 'They are our talent, and we want to make sure that the talent feels good.' While these shop cats might be the true stars, Michelladonna finds supporting characters in the bodega workers and customers – because no one gives better man-on-the-street commentary than a New Yorker. Kumer, who owns a flower shop in Chelsea, copped to taking more than 100 photos a day of Luna, a smoky Siamese who roams through the aisles. Roan, who works at a costume shop in Flatiron, called Mr Hyde, a black cat who sleeps on the counters, 'bougie as hell'. Michelladonna was cast by Mad Realities, a production company that focuses on short-form social media content, after gigging as a standup in the city. She studied finance at Cornell, graduating in the middle of the pandemic, but decided that she couldn't go into corporate life. 'I asked myself, 'What would happen if I die tomorrow?'' Elmhurst hospital, near her childhood home in Queens, was the dead center of coronavirus at the time. 'I would hear stuff about people in my circles passing away,' Michelladonna said. 'I said, 'fuck it, let me try going into comedy, because I what I really love is entertaining.'' Though New Yorkers may have decided to own the concept of bodega cats, Michelladonna says that the show does well outside of the city, too. 'I get people asking me to go to Brazil, France, Turkey, Japan and Colombia [to see their shop cats],' she said. 'The audience is all over.' Shop Cats is also on RedNote, the Chinese app and TikTok competitor that became popular in the US amid drama over a potential TikTok ban. Sarah Lohman, an author and historian of food who has studied bodega cats, says that bodega cats are good PR for felines, who historically have been viewed as more aloof and less lovable than dogs. 'Up until about 15 years ago, we've always painted dogs as man's best friend, but because of social media, cats hold an equally esteemed position, and can also be best friends,' Lohman said. 'You see this most clearly in the relationship between bodega cats and their city.' But not everyone is a fan. Technically, bodega cats are illegal. Unless a health inspector finds them particularly charming, they can fine shops for having one. Though it's certainly a loosely enforced law, Rimada, the founder of @bodegacatsofnewyork, has created a petition to change this law, and have the city finally officially recognize bodega cats as working animals, not unlike seeing-eye or drug-detection dogs. More than 11,000 people have signed the petition so far. 'If we give bodega cats that distinction, then the city can start to provide funding that will help bodega cats,' Rimada said. He has talked to animal shelter volunteers who have used their own money to spay, neuter or provide other veterinary care to beloved bodega cats. Along with Michelladonna and the Instagram account @bodegacatsofinstagram, Rimada started a fundraiser to cover the costs of this healthcare. 'While many bodega cats are loved and well cared for, too many don't receive the veterinary support they need,' Rimada said. 'This campaign ensures these quintessential New Yorkers get the healthcare they deserve.' This includes medical care such as vaccinations, checkups and spaying or neutering the cats. When she's off the clock, Michelladonna spends just as much time with bodega cats as she would on screen. Recently, she was out with friends at a gay bar and wanted to run to the corner store to get some air and refreshments. She immediately asked the owner if he had a cat, and without hesitation, he told his 10-year-old son to bring Michelladonna to the basement to see it. 'I spent 20 minutes in the basement with this kid just playing with the cat, got my fix, and then I went back to the bar,' she said. 'I was just vibing. To me, that's what New York City is.'
