Sierra Leone decries U.S. travel ban as violation of rights, freedoms

FREETOWN - Sierra Leoneans have voiced their strong opposition to the recent partial travel ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that such measures infringe on their rights to freedom of movement and education.

Trump's executive order, issued on Wednesday, has placed restrictions on the entry of Sierra Leonean nationals applying for immigrant visas and certain non-immigrant visas, including business, tourism, student, and exchange visitor visas.

Set to take effect on June 9, the ban is part of a broader policy that targets several other nations, including Cuba, Laos, and Venezuela, citing high visa overstay rates and insufficient cooperation in repatriating deported nationals.

"The bans are not just statistical measures; they are direct attacks on our rights," John Sallieu Sesay, associate lecturer at Milton Margai Technical University, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

"Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees the right to freedom of movement, while Article 26 ensures the right to education. These rights have been effectively denied to our students and young professionals, not due to their own actions but because of political decisions made by their government," he noted.

The statistics cited by U.S. authorities revealed a 15.43 percent overstay rate for Sierra Leoneans on business and tourist visas, and a 35.83 percent overstay rate for student and exchange visas.

Critics stressed that the punishment meted out against innocent students is akin to collective punishment, violating Article 2 of the UDHR, which prohibits discrimination based on national or political status.

Sierra Leone's Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah acknowledged the U.S. decision to suspend certain visa categories but emphasized the need for fairness.

"While we respect the sovereign right of any nation to set its immigration policies, we are committed to addressing the concerns raised. This measure does not affect immigrant, diplomatic, or official visas, and existing valid visas remain usable," Bah stated, also expressing hope for improved relations and collaboration with the United States in the future.

Present tensions also mirrored previous episodes in which the United States imposed visa restrictions on Sierra Leone.

In September 2017, the Trump administration sanctioned the country under the Immigration and Nationality Act, accusing the government of failing to repatriate deported nationals.

The repercussions included a suspension of certain visas for foreign ministry and immigration officials.

The latest restrictions and subsequent backlash have sparked discussions among Sierra Leonean citizens and advocacy groups.

Many believe that the policies disproportionately target students and professionals seeking legitimate opportunities to advance their education and careers in the United States.

Foday Mohamed Bundu, a local college student, expressed his disappointment. "I worked hard to secure a scholarship for my studies in the United States, but now I feel like my dreams have been shattered because of decisions made far from my reach," he said.