Protesters Gathered Outside JFK Airport Urge For the Release of Detained Refugees

One day after President Trump signed an executive action that severely limited the arrival of refugees into the United States, dozens gathered outside of New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to protest for the release of detained travelers.

The Guardian writes:

Donald Trump’s executive order to close America’s borders to refugees and immigrants from some Muslim-majority countries caused chaos on Saturday, as people who had flown to the US were held at airports and elsewhere others were barred from boarding planes.

As confusion reigned, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security made a striking admission when she told Reuters people holding so-called green cards, making them legal permanent US residents, were included in the ban.

“It will bar green card holders,” wrote Gillian Christensen, acting DHS spokeswoman, in an email.

Early Saturday, protesters began to rally outside of JFK airport, where 12 people were being detained. One man, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, “was released Saturday afternoon without explanation from federal officials.” 

Protest of Trump’s Muslim ban at JFK international arrivals terminal. pic.twitter.com/qyLxa8eYco

— Melissa Gira Grant (@melissagira) January 28, 2017

JFK. pic.twitter.com/OZeLHuFuLZ

— Josh Begley (@joshbegley) January 28, 2017

Darweesh, according to The Guardian, “had worked in Iraq for the US government for 10 years.”

It’s not just a handful of protesters who jumped into action early Saturday, however. Darweesh is one of two plaintiffs now represented by the ACLU in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The other plaintiff, Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, “was coming to the US to join his wife who had worked for a US contractor,” states The Guardian.

The ACLU said via a press release:

The lead plaintiffs have been detained by the U.S. government and threatened with deportation even though they have valid visas to enter the United States. One plaintiff, for example, worked for the U.S. military and his life was in danger in his home country due to that relationship. The other’s family was also threatened because of perceived ties to the United States.

Also at the protests were two members of the House of Representatives: Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Rep. Jerry Nadler:

Standing at JFK to fight for the legal rights of refugees being detained under Trump’s order & attack on American values. We will #resist pic.twitter.com/tCizDYJWjO

— (((Jerry Nadler))) (@JerryNadler) January 28, 2017

At #JFK with @RepJerryNadler demanding release of refugees detained under new Executive Order. pic.twitter.com/4hcEarfrjw

— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) January 28, 2017

“This is the soul of America,” Darweesh said outside of JFK shortly after his release. “This is why I left my country to come here.”

“We have the constitution. We have the law,” he continued. “No man can do whatever he wants.”

As for other airports, The Washington Post reports that “at least one refugee family is detained at San Francisco International Airport, but it is not clear how many refugees are currently held at airports nationwide.”

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