Mayor silent on Trump’s proposed Yemen travel ban

Mayor Amer Ghalib

By Charles Sercombe
President Trump is once again considering a travel ban on Yemen, along with several other countries.
Trump instituted a travel ban during his first term that focused on countries with majority Muslim populations.
This time, around 43 countries are being considered in the ban, but they are all sorted into three different levels: red, orange and yellow.
Countries in the red category include Yemen and would fall under a total travel ban. The countries included in the potential total ban are:
• Afghanistan
• Bhutan
• Cuba
• Iran
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Venezuela
• Yemen

It’s unclear what will happen to Yemenis who are American citizens, or those with visas, who attempt to return to the U.S. from countries included in the travel ban.
The countries in the orange category would have restricted travel, and those in the yellow category would have a deadline to fix so-called “deficiencies,” that are not explained.
Hamtramck has a sizeable Yemeni immigrant population that includes Mayor Amer Ghalib, who is the first Yemeni-American to hold the position of mayor here in Hamtramck and in the nation.
Two of the city councilmembers are also Yemeni-American, Mohammed Alsomiri and mayor pro tem Khalil Refai.
Ghalib was recently nominated by Trump to become the ambassador to Kuwait. That appointment depends on Ghalib being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Ghalib gained Trump’s favor after endorsing him in last year’s presidential election. Ghalib was a key figure for the Arab and Muslim population of the metro area for garnering support for Trump.
The Arab/Muslim voting bloc was credited for being a leading factor in Trump winning the state.
Ghalib remained supportive of Trump despite Trump saying, at a campaign rally, that immigrants from Yemen are terrorists. The mayor later said that Trump apologized to him for that comment, and promised not to say it again.
The Review reached out to Ghalib for comment about the pending travel ban on Yemen but he did not respond. The Review also reached out to Councilmember Refai, who also supported Trump and has announced that he is running for mayor this year, for comment on the possible travel ban but he also did not respond.
Trump’s first travel ban was lifted when President Joe Biden took office in 2021. Biden called the ban a “stain on our national conscience” as well as “inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”
Ghalib and Refai also did not respond for comment on Trump ordering the bombing of Houthi militants in Yemen for their attacks on ships passing though the Red Sea.
On Saturday, Trump posted on his Facebook page about the ongoing U.S, attacks on Houthis, who are considered a terrorist organization by the government:
“To all Houthi terrorists, your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today. If they don’t hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before!”
Houthis have since promised that the U.S. will “pay the price” for the airstrikes.
Posted March 21, 2025