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Travel ban keeping one Buffalo family separated

Posted at 11:17 PM, Jan 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-31 10:41:30-05

Seven countries, 90 days, it’s a travel ban designed to keep Americans safe. It’s also keeping one American family separated. 

“As excited as we were, I had the feeling that something was going to happen,” said Abdi Muse.

Mohamud Muse was days away from moving to America. The Somalian refugee spent the last two decades in Kenya, trying to get his visa to reunite with his brother and mother in Buffalo.  

The executive order by President Donald Trump put a halt to those plans.

Immigration lawyer, Ryan Witmer, a partner at Borowski Law says families looking for a new chance in America are running into an unexpected road block.

“Many of these people have disposed of all of their assets in the country they are coming from. They thought they were moving to a new life in the United States,” said Witmer.

Witmer's advice, anyone from the listed countries unsure of their immigration status in the United States, make sure they have legal representation.

For anyone abroad, right now, legally, not much can be done. A waiting game, Mohamud and his brother Abdi can't afford to play.  

“I can’t wait 90 days. Within the last week my mom was in the hospital with congestive heart failure,” said Abdi Muse.