Syrian refugees hopeful for US travel after ban lifted

Years ago when former U.S President Donald Trump placed a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries, Syrian refugee Mahmoud Mansour's dreams were shattered.

"We were shocked when (Donald) Trump issued the order," he recalled.

Mansour, who lives in Jordan, said he had built hopes and dreams on the prospect of being resettled to the U.S.

When Trump imposed the travel ban in 2016, Mansour was left shocked and frustrated.

His family were among those shut out by the Trump administration four years ago after the government issued its travel ban barring people from Syria and suspending the refugee program for 120 days.

They have been stuck in Jordan since 2012. With President Joe Biden in charge, Mansour says he is starting to feel optimistic. A raft of executive orders signed Wednesday undoes many of Trump's hallmark initiatives, such as lifting a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries.

Mansour said Biden sent a strong message that the United States is ready to restore its humanitarian policies by lifting the travel ban on his first day in office on Wednesday. Mansour said his family had completed the procedures to go to the United States before their case was abruptly halted in 2017. He hopes now that his family will finally be reunited in the United States.

Mansour said he would not be a burden on the country because he plans to be part of the workforce, if he gets to be resettled to the U.S. He called on the U.S. administration to be "merciful towards us as migrants or asylum seekers."

Image:AP