Peter Jok comments on President Trump's immigration ban

IOWA CITY — On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending immigration from seven Middle Eastern countries, including Iowa men's basketball forward Peter Jok's home country of Sudan. On Sunday night, Jok shared his view on the order to the 18,000-plus followers on his private Instagram account, as first reported by Land of 10.

Jok, who is a naturalized citizen of the United States, has several relatives and loved ones who still live in South Sudan, and President Trump's order directly effects those people.

'Although I am a naturalized citizen of the United States and not affected by Trump's Executive Order on Immigration, alot [sic] of my friends and family are. Like the Lost Boys and thousands of Sudanese who came to this country as refugees. American has been home to me because I grew up here. It's unfortunate the order has/will affect so many families and Sudanese athletes playing in college and in the NBA. I hope the order is reversed soon, because American that I know is a land of opportunities and inclusion. I am praying for those affected by it,' Jok wrote on Instagram.

Jok immigrated to the United State with his siblings Dau, Jo Jo and Alek after his father Dat Jok was assassinated in South Sudan. He grew up in Des Moines and graduated from West Des Moines Valley before coming to Iowa and emerging to be the star of the Hawkeyes.

Though currently nursing an injured back, Jok leads the Hawkeyes and the Big Ten in scoring at 21.0 points per game.

Jok's status as the leader of the team has been clear since before this season started, and that goes for on an off the court. Before this season started, and the NFL's Colin Kaepernick had sparked nationwide discussion on kneeling during the national anthem, Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said he wanted his players to share with him their opinions on that specific protest, as well as any others along the way.

McCaffery has encouraged his players to be individuals and express their opinion and 'to speak up' — though with the caveat that it be well-thought-out and purposeful.

Jok said then he was paying attention to the protests and other social issues. His statement Sunday backs that up, and also hearkens back to what he said when asked about player protests in October — that his mind constantly is on his family and friends in his native country.

'I'm more worried about what's going on with my mom and my family back in Africa,' Jok said in October. 'There's war going on back there. I live here now, so I have to be worried about both, but my mind is on what's going on back in Sudan.'

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