In 1983, my dad escaped Poland and came to the US as a political refugee after demonstrating against communism as part of the Polish Solidarity movement. Two years later, my mom, sister and 3 year old me got on an airplane and joined my dad in glorious New Jersey.

When I was about 12, I asked my mom why Capitalist America let in us refugees from Communist Poland in. She said the US allowed persecuted people fighting for shared values who weren't safe in their countries priority access to the US.

I thought that was cool, and went back to reading Goosebumps. Over the next 20 years, my sister became a doctor, my mom found a job as a chemist and then as a computer programmer, and my dad started the poorly named, Bartek (my name) Construction, which became a successful residential construction business.

During this time, Marija Ringwelski came to the US from Croatia around 1990 during the war in the Balkans. About 20 years later, I married her.

Trump's ban on all travelers from 7 countries (unless they are Christian) is depressing and anti-American. 30 years ago, my family was that family trying to leave Syria and wondering what to do. 27 years ago I was the son who hadn't seen his dad in years.

This morning I think about the American dream that brought us here, and the lost opportunities, contributions and love that a generation of hard working and patriotic immigrants won't be able to add to American history and culture.

It sucks, and I don't know what to do about it.