CHAMPAIGN-URBANA — President Trump’s new national security directive banning travelers from 12 foreign countries is hitting close to home for African communities in East Central Illinois.
The administration is restricting travel from several countries on the continent, including the Republic of Congo.
John Matanda is the president of the Champaign County Congolese Community organization. He and the vast majority of Congolese people in East Central Illinois come from the Democratic Republic of Congo — a different country that was not targeted by the ban.
Matanda said just a handful of families in the area are from the country hit with the travel ban, but he also said the entire community is worried the DRC could be next.
“I don’t have fear,” Matanda said. “I have tears about to come out if they say, today, they ban the country where I came from.”
The Champaign-Urbana area is home to over 6,000 Congolese people. Many came to the region fleeing conflict in Central Africa.
Though the population does have legal status to be in the U.S., Matanda said he’s heard from community members who are afraid they could be targeted by immigration enforcement.
He said several chose not to attend an event organized by Cunningham Township to help residents with vehicle registration and ID cards.
“People were scared even to attend that event, because they [said] it was a trap. They could go there and then get arrested,” Matanda added.
“When I met people around, even some people were scared to go even to work.”
The Trump administration argues the travel ban will prevent foreigners who harbor “hostile attitudes” toward the U.S. and pose a safety risk from entering the country.
Matanda said “bad people” can come from all kinds of places — and he thinks the Congolese community is just looking for a peaceful place to live.
“They need somewhere they can feel safe and the United States is one place where people feel safe,” he said. “I know some bad people can come, but I don’t think that Congolese are bad.”
