Montrealers caught in Trump travel ban worry about effect on their kids

Two McGill University researchers affected by the temporary U.S. travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries say the personal impact has hurt, but it's the impression it leaves on their children that really worries them.

In an interview with CBC Montreal's Daybreak, Yemen nationalAshwaq Al-Hashedi, who is doing a post-doctoratein dentistry,said the ban forced her to scrap a trip to visit relatives in the United States in March with her 20-year-old son.

It would have been her son's first visit to theU.S., and she said he's taken the ban hard.

"He was very upset," Al-Hashedi said.

Issued last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order put a 90-day freeze on visits to the U.S. by citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

It also placed an indefinite holdon allowingSyrian refugees intothe United States.

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Hide their roots?

Al-Hashedi said she fears her son might grow to resent his Yemen nationality if the U.S. travel ban is extended.

"If he feels like being a Yemeni is blocking him from travelling, from getting a job you feel isolated," she said.

Iranian national Majid Soleimani, a chemical and mechanical engineerat McGill on a Canadian work visa, said he has the same concerns for his one-month-old Iranian-Canadian son.

"I want him to be proud to be Iranian, I don't want him to feel bad," he said."If this continues, he will."

"I've heard people trying to deny their Iranian nationality because of this new ban."

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Professional impact already felt

Both Soleimani and Al-Hashedi said they're proud of their nationalities, but they worry what the ban could mean for their careers, especially if it's prolonged.

Both researchers had to shelve plans for attending conferences in the United States that are scheduled to take place during the 90-day period.

In Al-Hashedi`s case, the ban means cancellinga presentation at a major conference inSan Francisco, where she was set to promote the work on dental implants she's doing at McGill and meet potential investors.

"It will delay development and commercializing of our product," she said.

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Pressure needed

Soleimanitook heart fromthe responseby CanadianPrime Minister Justin Trudeauand the international communityto Trump's executive order.

However, he said pressure needs to be maintained so the ban isn't extendedor broadened.

"I'm completely sure that if we don't respond correctly, this is not going to stop here, and he's doing to target other Muslims as well," he said.

Al-Hashedi said Trump's assertion that the ban doesn't target Muslims, that it's "about terror and keeping our country safe," does little to soothe the peopleit affects.

"It doesn't make us feel better. He labeled us as a terrorist. If he banned us, it's because he's worried about terrorist attacks, and the ban on us means we're terrorists," she said.

Trump's executive order has had one positive impact, however. It's given both researchers a new appreciation for Canada.

"I'm really happy to be living in Canadaand living in this society," Soleimani said.

Al-Hashedishared that outlook.

"When I heard Justin Trudeau, I was so proud to live in this country."

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