UNC Charlotte students rally against Trump's travel ban

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UNC Charlotte students joined college students nationwide Thursday to protest President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban.

UNC Charlotte students gathered at Popp Martin Student Union at noon to show support for citizens of the seven countries and refugees affected by the executive order. Students are asked wear white as a sign of peace.

"This is the start of a lot of action, a lot of push for peace and equality on this campus," UNC Charlotte sophomore Lauren Coker said.

The president signed an executive order nearly two weeks ago that bans any non-U.S. citizen from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and legal permanent residents from those seven countries who were out of the U.S. when the executive order was signed from returning to the U.S. for 90 days. The executive order also suspends the U.S. refugee program for 120 days.

President Trump said he signed the order hoping the ban leads to a better vetting process and stops terrorists from entering the United States.

The president of the Iranian Student Organization, Alireza Bafandeh, said there are 93 Iranian students directly impacted by the ban. He said many are single entry visas who can't see their wives or children.

"It's very sad. He couldn't see his daughter, more than 7 months, then the visa was going to be issued, the ban happened and now they can't come here. It's very sad," Bafandeh said.

People around the world have protested the ban.

A federal judge last week in Seattle granted a restraining order against the executive order, which temporarily halted the travel ban.

The Department of Justice on Monday filed a motion requesting that the president’s travel ban be temporarily resumed. An appeals court heard arguments Tuesday on the government’s motion. The court could reinstate the ban, leave the federal judge’s ruling in place or strike down the executive order.

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