NY lawmakers: Refugee detained in airport has been released
Iraqi interpreter released, excited to be with his family. He still loves America. pic.twitter.com/ZpeQ933d9d
— Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) January 28, 2017
A refugee who was detained in a New York airport due to President Trump’s immigration ban has been released into the U.S., two lawmakers announced Saturday.
Hameed Jhalid Darweesh, an Iraqi who worked for the U.S. government in Iraq for 10 years, was barred from entering the U.S. at first when he landed at Kennedy Airport in New York on Friday night, hours after Trump signed his executive order.
Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) announced outside the airport Saturday that Darweesh was being released. Further details as to his future were not clear. A reporter’s photo appeared to show him outside the airport and leaving.
A first cigarette for Hameed Khalid Darweesh outside JFK pic.twitter.com/CtKRBHt7TX
— Mark Chiusano (@mjchiusano) January 28, 2017
Pleased to announce w/@NydiaVelazquez the release of Hameed Jhalid Darweesh from detention at JFK. pic.twitter.com/AeKDhIPp7k
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017
At JFK now with @NydiaVelazquez to help refugees detained by Trump’s shameful order. pic.twitter.com/jiN5bWBfnw
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017
Happening NOW @ Terminal 4 JFK: @NydiaVelazquez @RepJerryNadler demanding entry to see detained refugees. #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/LMwiraWuDo
— Daniel Altschuler (@altochulo) January 28, 2017
.@NydiaVelazquez & I met w/CBP @ JFK and will continue to work to get refugees access to their lawyers & to justice. #muslimban pic.twitter.com/nYjFjJLR6i
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017
The New York Times reported Saturday that two Iraqi refugees has been detained at Kennedy Airport in New York and filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking to be released.
{mosads}They also filed a motion for class certification, to represent all refugees and immigrants being detained at ports of entry.
Attorneys told the Times that they weren’t being allowed to meet with their clients.
Along with Darweesh, the other detainee was Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, who was arriving to the U.S. to join his wife, a U.S. contractor, and his young son.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on their behalf as well.
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