Threats Loom for U.S. Coffee Sellers as Taliban Tightens Grip in Afghanistan
In a coffee shop nestled in northern Virginia, there's a taste of the Middle East, but the ambiance is soured by President Trump's infamous travel restriction policy.
Layla Atik, the owner, hails from Yemen, with her staff members being from Afghanistan and Eritrea - three of the dozen countries on the restricted list. She expressed her frustrations, saying, "I see firsthand the battles my colleagues undergo, and they're hardworking individuals, not causing trouble."
Atefeh Aslami, an employee who fled Afghanistan, now fears losing asylum in America. "If we return to Afghanistan, the Taliban will take our lives," she said, highlighting her children's fears, especially her daughter, who wouldn't be allowed to attend school. "It's a matter of life for us all."
Pouring from a Turkish coffee pot, Afghan colleague Zahir Moradi voiced his sentiments: "Those attempting to come here simply seek help, wishing for a better life."
A gold-emblazoned wall serves as a backdrop to an extensive variety of Middle Eastern coffee and pastries.
Inevitably, this 2025 reiteration of Trump's 2017 travel ban converts the American dream into a nightmare for millions globally.
Last weekend's firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, led President Trump to advocate for fresh travel restrictions. Yet, a Vietnam veteran sipping coffee with his family in the Virginia café expressed skepticism. He opined, "I advocate for immigration, and it's awful that we're deporting people who've done nothing wrong."
The 2025 version of the 2017 'Muslim ban' amplifies the fears and uncertainties within communities like the one at this coffee shop. The ban can bring about various challenges such as travel restrictions, potential profiling, and workforce disruptions for businesses heavily reliant on immigrant workers.
[1] Employee Rights Group offers guidance on travel amid federal prohibitions, December 2020 - Stop AAPI Hate, https://stopaapihate.org/employee-rights-group-offers-guidance-on-travel-amid-federal-prohibitions/[2] Five Years Since Trump's Muslim Ban: Long-Lasting Effects on US Foreign and Defense Policy, August 2022 - Brookings, https://www.brookings.edu/research/five-years-since-trumps-muslim-ban-long-lasting-effects-on-us-foreign-and-defense-policy/_[3] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Country-Specific Information, accessed November 2022, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-october-2022.html]
- The 2025 reiteration of Trump's 2017 travel ban continues to bring concerns in communities, as seen in a coffee shop in northern Virginia, where the staff members are from Afghanistan, Yemen, and Eritrea, countries on the restricted list.
- The ongoing travel restrictions under the 2025 'Muslim ban' can lead to potential challenges, such as workforce disruptions, for businesses like the coffee shop, which rely heavily on immigrant workers.
- Just like Layla Atik, the owner of the coffee shop, employees like Zahir Moradi fear that the travel restrictions could separate them from their families and prevent them from seeking a better life, as they are only seeking help and a chance at a better life.
