Washington, D.C. - Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) unequivocally condemns the administration's expansion of the list of countries subject to harmful travel restrictions.
The proclamation that goes into effect on January 1, 2026, bans citizens of seven additional countries and imposes travel restrictions on individuals from 15 others, while keeping in place the ban for 12 countries listed in the June 12 proclamation. These new restrictions also remove existing exceptions for relatives of U.S. citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, and international students.
“The administration’s decision to impose nationality-based restrictions wrongly punishes people for the very conditions they fled,” said Kristyn Peck, CEO of LSSNCA. “The new restrictions are discriminatory in nature, and will have a devastating impact on families, individuals, and our communities. As a result, families will be deliberately kept apart, Americans will be unable to reunite with their loved ones, and Afghan allies who risked everything will be abandoned in precarious conditions.”
LSSNCA is deeply alarmed by the compounding effect of this proclamation on people seeking safety, as it follows a series of punitive directives targeting immigrants.
“The expanded travel bans further restrict already limited pathways to safety for people who are forcibly displaced or fleeing persecution,” Peck added. “At a time of year when we celebrate hope, family, and compassion, these actions, along with other recent policy changes, starkly contradict our shared faith value of welcoming the stranger and undermine our commitment to upholding the inherent dignity of all people.”
LSSNCA calls on elected officials to denounce policies that inflict harm on families seeking reunification and individuals seeking refuge.
