‘We Fear for Our Lives’: Muslim Business Owners Say They May Shut Down and Leave the U.S.

A growing dispute is unfolding as some Muslim immigrant business owners across the U.S. warn they may shut down gas stations, laundromats, and car washes, saying they no longer feel safe operating their businesses. Several owners claim they are considering pulling their investments and returning to their countries of origin, citing fear and backlash they say intensified after President Trump announced new safety and vetting measures targeting a small group of high-risk countries.

According to those business owners, the policy shift has led to heightened hostility, harassment, and a sense of being singled out, even though the rules are not explicitly based on religion. Some say the political rhetoric surrounding the announcement has made everyday interactions tense, leaving them worried about their families and livelihoods. “We fear for our lives,” several owners reportedly said, describing an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety.

Supporters of the administration strongly dispute that characterization. They argue the new measures are strictly about national security, not faith or ethnicity, and are designed to strengthen vetting procedures rather than punish law-abiding immigrants. From their perspective, claims of widespread danger are exaggerated and risk inflaming divisions.

Critics, however, contend that regardless of intent, the messaging has consequences. They argue that fear even if not directly encouraged can spread quickly and affect entire communities when policy debates turn heated.

As the situation escalates, the controversy is becoming another flashpoint in the broader immigration debate. Businesses, politics, and personal safety are colliding, and the fallout is no longer theoretical. Whether the tension eases or deepens may depend less on policy details and more on how leaders choose to frame the conversation moving forward.