Chaos and dismay for refugees and immigrants

Reports abound of refugees being barred from boarding U.S.-bound flights, and immigrants being detained at U.S. airports.

Reuters reported that a senior Homeland Security official said 109 travellers in transit to the United States were denied entry into the country, and another 173 people were stopped by airlines from boarding an aircraft to the United States.

Earlier in the day, several Iraqi refugees in Cairo, who had been cleared for resettlement in the U.S., were blocked from boarding their flight to New York City. And in Iraq, NPR’s Jane Arraf reported that “members of Yazidi minority, one of the biggest victims of ISIS, were prevented from boarding despite having visas.”

Green card holders — legal permanent residents of the U.S. — are also included in the ban, according to a senior Trump administration official. The official says they will need a case-by-case waiver in order to return to the U.S. if they are currently outside the country.

Colleges and universities around the U.S. have been advising students from the seven listed countries — including lawful permanent residents — not to leave the U.S. until there is further clarity on the new rules.

Protests are rising up at JFK and Los Angeles airports. Thousands of leading academics have signed a petition denouncing Trump’s actions. And top technology companies whose staff have been affected, are criticizing the move by President Trump.

[NPR]

This entry was posted in Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation by Grant Montgomery.