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Trump executive order: Refugees detained at US airports Trump executive order: Refugees detained at US airports
(about 1 hour later)
Rights groups have filed a lawsuit in a New York court to demand the release of two refugees in transit who have been detained at John F Kennedy airport. Refugees arriving in the US are being held at airports after President Trump issued an order barring migrants and refugees from several Muslim countries.
Entry to the US for nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries has been stopped for 90 days by President Trump. Protesters are gathering at New York's John F Kennedy airport to demand the release of 11 refugees who are being detained there.
The exact implications of his order remain unclear. The US State Department has told the BBC it is working on the immediate implementation of the ban. The exact implications of Donald Trump's order remain unclear.
People fleeing Syria are banned until further notice. He is facing a legal challenge from several rights groups. People fleeing Syria are banned until further notice.
The other countries affected are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.The other countries affected are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
While those who were already in transit to the US at the time the order was issued on Friday are apparently being detained by border officials, other people affected by the ban are being prevented from boarding planes, despite having valid visas.
Trump border policy: Key pointsTrump border policy: Key points
Trump border policy: World reactsTrump border policy: World reacts
May fails to condemn Trump on refugeesMay fails to condemn Trump on refugees
The two Iraqi refugees detained in New York were in transit when the executive order was signed on Friday. The human rights groups, including the National Immigration Law Centre (NILC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed a lawsuit in New York to demand the release of two Iraqi men who were in the air bound for the US when the executive order was signed.
One of them, Haneed Khalid Darweesh, who had worked as a US Army interpreter, was released on Saturday afternoon.One of them, Haneed Khalid Darweesh, who had worked as a US Army interpreter, was released on Saturday afternoon.
The other man, Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, remains in detention.The other man, Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, remains in detention.
New York Representative Jerry Nadler tweeted that he and fellow Democratic Representative Nydia Velazquez were working to help 11 more refugees still being held.New York Representative Jerry Nadler tweeted that he and fellow Democratic Representative Nydia Velazquez were working to help 11 more refugees still being held.
The National Immigration Law Centre (NILC) told the BBC that it was suing President Donald Trump and the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mark Doss, a lawyer for the two Iraqis, said he was delighted that Mr Darweesh had been released by border officials:
Mark Doss, a lawyer for the two Iraqis, spoke to the BBC from Terminal 4 at JFK, where he had been since Friday evening trying, and failing, to see his clients: "This obviously was an illegal detention. This is a discriminatory order from President Trump and we will continue to fight for all of the refugees, immigrants and non-immigrants that are coming to the United States [and] are being illegally detained."
"It's just absolutely disgraceful that we would be turning back and detaining the most vulnerable individuals in the world - individuals who have served our country, are fleeing from persecution and have valid status, only to be detained without an attorney at their port of entry [to the US].
"And so we believe this order is unconstitutional and we will be fighting it."
Several other rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), are involved in the lawsuit, filed on Saturday morning.
On Saturday several Iraqi passengers and a Yemeni national were prevented from boarding a flight at Cairo airport bound for New York, despite holding valid visas for the US.On Saturday several Iraqi passengers and a Yemeni national were prevented from boarding a flight at Cairo airport bound for New York, despite holding valid visas for the US.
Google has urged travelling staff members who are nationals of the seven countries affected to return to the US as quickly as possible.Google has urged travelling staff members who are nationals of the seven countries affected to return to the US as quickly as possible.
Friday's wide-ranging order includes the following measures:Friday's wide-ranging order includes the following measures:
Mr Trump signed the order on Friday, which was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Mr Trump signed the order on Friday.
The president's statement to mark that occasion, on the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, made no mention of Jews or anti-Semitism. In response, the United Nations refugee agency said the needs of those fleeing conflict had never been greater.
In response to Mr Trump's order, the United Nations refugee agency said the needs of those fleeing conflict had never been greater.
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) also says it will file a lawsuit.The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) also says it will file a lawsuit.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, pressed repeatedly to give her response to Mr Trump's executive order, said: "The United States is responsible for the United States' policy on refugees."British Prime Minister Theresa May, pressed repeatedly to give her response to Mr Trump's executive order, said: "The United States is responsible for the United States' policy on refugees."
Mrs May had told MPs on Wednesday that she would not be afraid to "speak frankly" to the new US president. There have been reports of "green card" holders, who are legal permanent residents of the US, being prevented from getting on flights.
There have been reports of "green card" holders, who are legal permanent residents of the US, being prevented from getting on flights. However, green cards are not specifically mentioned in the executive order, and so the status of green card holders remains unclear.
CAIR advised non-US citizens, including permanent residents, from the seven countries to plan to delay all international travel for at least 90 days.CAIR advised non-US citizens, including permanent residents, from the seven countries to plan to delay all international travel for at least 90 days.
Mr Trump said the measures detailed in his executive order would "keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US".Mr Trump said the measures detailed in his executive order would "keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US".
But rights groups say there is no link between Syrian refugees in the US and terrorism.But rights groups say there is no link between Syrian refugees in the US and terrorism.
UN dismayed: Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, GenevaUN dismayed: Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Geneva
The 1951 United Nations convention on refugees is intended to offer protection to all those fleeing conflict and persecution, regardless of race, religion or nationality.The 1951 United Nations convention on refugees is intended to offer protection to all those fleeing conflict and persecution, regardless of race, religion or nationality.
The United States has traditionally honoured its obligations under the convention with a resettlement programme: taking in individuals recommended by the UN refugee agency.The United States has traditionally honoured its obligations under the convention with a resettlement programme: taking in individuals recommended by the UN refugee agency.
As with President Trump's suggestion that the US might reintroduce torture, the ban on refugees from certain countries is an indication that his new administration does not view international human rights law as sacrosanct.As with President Trump's suggestion that the US might reintroduce torture, the ban on refugees from certain countries is an indication that his new administration does not view international human rights law as sacrosanct.
The UN is dismayed, but apparently still hoping to engage Washington in dialogue. Respect for international law is not the only concern: the US remains one of the biggest contributors to UN aid agencies, and Donald Trump has indicated he is looking for big cuts in their budgets.The UN is dismayed, but apparently still hoping to engage Washington in dialogue. Respect for international law is not the only concern: the US remains one of the biggest contributors to UN aid agencies, and Donald Trump has indicated he is looking for big cuts in their budgets.
During the election campaign, Mr Trump suggested a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".During the election campaign, Mr Trump suggested a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".
This call was widely rejected by both Democrats and Republicans while Mr Trump remained just a candidate.This call was widely rejected by both Democrats and Republicans while Mr Trump remained just a candidate.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan tweeted his opposition to "a religious test for entering our country" in July 2016.Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan tweeted his opposition to "a religious test for entering our country" in July 2016.
On Friday, Mr Ryan, issued a statement responding to the executive order saying it was "time to re-evaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process".On Friday, Mr Ryan, issued a statement responding to the executive order saying it was "time to re-evaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process".
"President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country."
Mr Trump's Vice-President Mike Pence called the proposed ban on Muslims "offensive and unconstitutional" in a tweet in December 2015.Mr Trump's Vice-President Mike Pence called the proposed ban on Muslims "offensive and unconstitutional" in a tweet in December 2015.
Have you or your family been affected by the entry restrictions? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you or your family been affected by the entry restrictions? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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