Hundreds protested after 11 people were detained Saturday at JFK Airport, as a part of President Trump’s new executive order barring people from seven countries from entering the United States.
Joining the protests on Saturday was the NY Taxi Workers Alliance, who called for a work stoppage from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. with no taxi pick ups or drop-offs at JFK Airport.
Earlier Saturday, lawmakers released a twelfth person, an Iraqi man. According to court papers filed in Downtown Brooklyn, Hameed Khalid Darweesh had worked on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq for 10 years.
The other detainee, Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, was coming to the United States to join his wife, who had worked for a U.S. contractor, and young son.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York tweeted that he and Rep. Nydia Velazquez had secured the release of Darweesh.
Governor Cuomo released a statement on Saturday directing government agencies to explore all legal options to assist anyone who has been detained.
“I never thought I’d see the day when refugees, who have fled war-torn countries in search of a better life, would be turned away at our doorstep. We are a nation of bridges, not walls, and a great many of us still believe in the words ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.’ This is not who we are, and not who we should be.”
Nadler and Velazquez added that 12 travelers have been detained at Kennedy Airport while customs agents clarify how they should be responding to the Trump executive order.
Several hundred protesters gathered at the airport to demand their release.
(AP)
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8 Responses
The party is about to start!!!
“I never thought I’d see the day when refugees, who have fled war-torn countries in search of a better life, would be turned away at our doorstep. We are a nation of bridges, not walls, and a great many of us still believe in the words ‘give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.’ This is not who we are, and not who we should be.”
Well! Nadler and Velazquez, my guess is that one 9/11 was not enough for you, in order to prevent another one and no matter the proportion and to prevent them from eating the taxes of the hard working we have to profile who exactly is entering. At least we have to try. How many have entered innocently only to become terrorists.
They rushed to implement this new policy without having thought through the details and without providing any guidance to the front-line immigration agents at the airports. Some of those detained have done more for this country in providing assistance to our troops overseas than any of the Trumpkopfs. The overall change in policy is long overdue and should be expanded to include countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. But wait until you have your act together before dragging people off planes or detaining them with no logical reason.
Ban them all!! It’s a great start to say we mean business. Keep up the great work MR PRESIDENT
Cuomo, I guess you don’t remember America not allowing Jews in to escape the nazis.
Nadler is a traitor.
He voted in favor of the Iranian nuclear deal – supporting Obama .
Re comment no. 5: Actually, I think Governor Cuomo does remember when Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany were turned away by the US Government. And he does not want to repeat that tragic injustice.
hundreds protest. but millions are cheering.
hundreds funded and organized by CAIR. but millions are american citizens.
hundreds protest, but millions want out existing immigration laws enforced.
hundreds of Soros. mlions of trump