By Fombi Nyenty, Micheline Ewang, Junior Mekinda, Imam Abdul Sale Salam & Sylvie Bello.
Congressman Adriano Espaillat’s continued failure to champion immigration relief for Cameroonians exposes a deep and persistent inequity in U.S. immigration policy. While he has used his influence to secure protections for Ecuadorians—including press conferences, public resolutions, and meetings with Ecuador’s president—Cameroonians, suffering under some of the worst humanitarian conditions in Africa, have received nothing but silence.
Now, with the Trump administration considering a new travel ban that could affect up to 43 countries, including Cameroon, Espaillat’s inaction is even more unacceptable. The time for excuses is over—Cameroonians need action, now.
Cameroon’s Crisis: The Five Armed Conflicts Impacting the Nation
As of March 2025, Cameroon faces five distinct and ongoing conflicts, each affecting communities differently, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for civilians:
- Ethno-Cultural Conflict – Armed groups (Seleka and Bakala from the Central African Republic) have destabilized Cameroon’s eastern regions, leading to mass displacement and insecurity.
- Ethno-Political Crisis – The Presidential electoral crisis has intensified political repression and civil unrest, deepening national divisions.
- Ethno-Religious Violence – The Boko Haram insurgency continues in the north, targeting communities based on religious and ethnic identity.
- Ethno-Linguistic Division – The Anglophone conflict in the western regions has evolved into a separatist crisis, pitting English-speaking communities against the French-speaking government.
- Ethno-Climatic Conflict – Climate-driven resource disputes between herders, farmers, and fishers in the north and northwest are fueling tensions and violence.
These crises have led to mass displacement, famine, and an unlivable environment for countless civilians. The U.S. Department of State’s December 18, 2024, travel advisory categorizes large parts of Cameroon as “Do Not Travel” zones, citing extreme dangers of armed violence, civil unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism.
Despite these undeniable realities, Rep. Espaillat refuses to prioritize Special Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon—just as he championed Ecuadorian relief in 2024.
The Looming Trump Travel Ban: Cameroon at Risk
The urgency for humanitarian parole has escalated further with the Trump administration’s proposed travel ban expansion, which could affect up to 43 countries in a three-tier system:
- Red Category (11 countries): Citizens from these countries would be completely barred from entering the U.S.
- Orange Category (5 countries): Citizens would face heavily restricted visas, requiring mandatory in-person interviews.
- Yellow Category (26 countries, including Cameroon): These countries have 60 days to comply with U.S. immigration demands or risk moving to the Red or Orange categories, effectively cutting off access to the United States.
If Cameroon fails to meet the administration’s arbitrary requirements, Cameroonians could soon be completely banned from traveling to the U.S. This would block asylum-seekers, immigrants, and even those with family in the U.S. from seeking safety or reuniting with loved ones.
Espaillat’s inaction is particularly egregious given the looming risk of an outright travel ban. The time for inaction has long passed—Espaillat must step up before it is too late.
The Stark Double Standard in Immigration Policy
In February 2024, Rep. Espaillat introduced resolutions for both Ecuador Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Special Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon. However, only Ecuadorians received public advocacy and government engagement:
- He held press conferences at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C.
- He met with Ecuadorian leaders and the President of Ecuador to discuss their case for relief.
- He co-signed public letters urging immediate action from the Biden administration.
- He ensured media attention for Ecuador’s cause.
For Cameroon? Nothing. No press conferences, no high-profile meetings, no sustained advocacy. Even as the situation in Cameroon deteriorated further in 2025 and with the travel ban looming, Espaillat’s office has remained silent—once again dismissing the urgent needs of Cameroonian immigrants.
The Shameful Absence of African Nations in Humanitarian Parole
The irony is inescapable: in the seventy-year history of U.S. humanitarian parole, not a single African country has received access to the Special Humanitarian Parole program. The U.S. has created over 120 categorical or programmatic parole programs for displaced populations from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—but never for an African nation.
Even Rep. Espaillat himself acknowledged this historical disparity in a 2024 press release, stating:
“Historically, the U.S. has established over 120 programmatic or categorical parole programs for deserving immigrant populations from various regions. However, in the seventy-year history of U.S. humanitarian parole, the U.S. has yet to create such a parole program for an African country. As called for in the resolution, the U.S. now has a chance to rectify this disparity by assisting Cameroonian immigrants by providing them with life-saving humanitarian parole in their time of need.”
Yet despite recognizing this injustice, Espaillat has failed to use his platform to correct it. He had the chance to make Cameroon the first African nation to receive humanitarian parole, and he squandered it.
The Impact on Religious and Community Leaders
During this Ramadan, Cameroonian Muslim leaders have also endured significant hardships. Voices like Imam Abdul Sale Salam echo the struggles of communities from Mbem-Nwa Village—located at the border of Nigeria, the North-West region, and the Adamawa region—where residents face multiple threats, including Boko Haram infiltration, herder-farmer conflicts, and the ongoing Anglophone crisis. These compounded challenges further endanger lives and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
March 2025: Espaillat Must Act for Cameroon
Cameroonian immigrants cannot afford further delays. Their families are trapped in a nation under siege, facing daily violence and persecution. And now, with the looming Trump travel ban that threatens to cut off Cameroonians from the U.S. entirely, the stakes are higher than ever.
If Rep. Espaillat truly believes in immigrant justice, he must:
- Publicly demand immediate immigration relief including TPS and Special Humanitarian Parole for Cameroon—just as he did for Ecuador TPS.
- Hold press conferences and engage with media to raise awareness about Cameroon’s dire crisis.
- Engage the Trump administration and the diverse Cameroonian diaspora leaders to push for action.
- Stop perpetuating anti-Africanness in immigration policy by prioritizing African immigrant communities alongside others.
The fight for immigrant justice is not selective. If Espaillat had the resources and political will to champion Ecuador, then he has the power to do the same for Cameroon. The only difference is the will to act
A United Front for Immigration Relief
This op-ed’s co-authors come from diverse backgrounds and hold different viewpoints—mirroring the five armed conflicts dividing Cameroon and the varied challenges faced by its communities. Yet, we have always found common ground in one urgent demand: immigration relief for impacted Cameroonians.
People like Fombi Nyenty, a wounded combat veteran who lost his entire family in the North West except for his sister, need Special Humanitarian Parole to reunite their family. Community leaders like Micheline Ewang bring to light the struggles of those in the South West, where displaced families and vulnerable youth—like the two teen sisters longing to reunite with their adoptive mother, Yolanda, in the U.S.—are left in limbo. Leaders like Junior Mekinda, representing the Ekang diaspora in the East region, know their community members cannot return home due to conflicts spilling over from the Central African Republic. And voices like Imam Abdul Sale Salam echo the hardships endured in Mbem-Nwa Village—where Boko Haram, herder-farmer clashes, and the Anglophone crisis converge to create an environment of relentless peril.
The need for TPS renewal and expanded humanitarian relief is beyond urgent. Congressman Espaillat, Cameroonians are running out of time. Act now.
* Fombi Nyenty, Wounded Combat Veteran, U.S. Armed Forces
Micheline Ewang, South West Diaspora Leader, Michelline Ewang Foundation
Junior Mekinda, Beti Diaspora Leader, President of Ekang Bessey Y’Amerika
Imam Abdul Sale Salam, Muslim Leader, Donga-Mantung Association for Promoting Islamic Unity and Development (DOMAAPIUD)
Sylvie Bello, Cameroon American Council
