Chaos has ensued one day after President Trump signed an executive order halting the admittance of refugees to the United States, and temporarily freezing immigration from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, mostly Muslim countries. Several immigrants have been detained and blocked at airports causing major panic in both the U.S. and abroad. A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday morning that the President’s executive order will, in fact, stop green card holders from seven countries from returning to the United States if they travel abroad.
A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday morning that the President’s executive order will, in fact, stop green card holders from seven countries from returning to the United States if they travel abroad. “It will bar green card holders,” the spokeswoman said. The official further stated that green card holders will need a case-by-case waiver in order to return to the U.S. if they are currently outside the country.
For immigrants needing immediate assistance, NPR’s Kirk Siegler reports international refugee assistance groups are sending attorneys and translators to support new arrivals who are being detained.
Darweesh and Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, two Iraqi immigrants, were detained at Kennedy Airport in New York on Saturday. The ACLU and other legal organizations filed a writ of habeas corpus for the two men Saturday in an attempt to obtain their clients’ release. One of those men, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was later released from detention on Saturday, according to a tweet sent out by U.S. Rep Jerry Nadler.
In a joint statement, Reps. Nadler and Nydia Velazquez say they are continuing to work for the release of 11 immigrants currently held at the airport in New York.
Are you an immigrant from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya or Somalia and live in the United States either on a visa or a green card? Do you have friends or family that is impacted? I want to hear from you if President Trump’s travel ban is impacting your life. You can email me at ebony@thenextchaptercorp.com or leave a comment. Share your story.
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