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Anti-travel ban activists skeptical of reports that all detainees released Anti-travel ban activists skeptical of reports that all detainees released
(about 1 hour later)
There were no reports of anyone left in detention at US airports on Monday following the chaotic scenes that resulted from Donald Trump’s Friday executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
But advocacy groups said the US government was not giving them sufficient information to know for sure that no one remained detained. There was confusion on Monday about whether or not anyone remained in detention at airports following the chaotic scenes that resulted from Donald Trump’s Friday executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
An advocacy group at JFK airport in New York City said that there had been additional detentions Monday. The homeland security department did not immediately reply to a query about the reported new detentions.
Dozens of travelers were detained at US airports over the weekend as US border agents put the policy into effect. Some travelers were detained for hours, some were refused entry to the US and put on outgoing planes, and some green card holders – permanent US residents – were reportedly pressured to give up their documents.Dozens of travelers were detained at US airports over the weekend as US border agents put the policy into effect. Some travelers were detained for hours, some were refused entry to the US and put on outgoing planes, and some green card holders – permanent US residents – were reportedly pressured to give up their documents.
All of the detention cases from the weekend had been “processed”, a homeland security spokesperson told the Guardian on Monday. “As of last night, Customs and Border Patrol had processed all cases of individuals who were initially affected by the order at airports around the country,” said the spokesperson in an email. “Not sure if there are additional folks this a.m.”All of the detention cases from the weekend had been “processed”, a homeland security spokesperson told the Guardian on Monday. “As of last night, Customs and Border Patrol had processed all cases of individuals who were initially affected by the order at airports around the country,” said the spokesperson in an email. “Not sure if there are additional folks this a.m.”
At New York’s JFK airport, where protests had dissipated on Monday, a sign at an area set up by human rights groups at terminal four this morning said: “CONFIRMED: Released: 41, Sent back: 2, Detained: 1.”At New York’s JFK airport, where protests had dissipated on Monday, a sign at an area set up by human rights groups at terminal four this morning said: “CONFIRMED: Released: 41, Sent back: 2, Detained: 1.”
That one detainee was later released, according to Sara Lind, a volunteer legal aide there. She said the detainee did not want their identity or nationality made public.That one detainee was later released, according to Sara Lind, a volunteer legal aide there. She said the detainee did not want their identity or nationality made public.
“We’re not seeing as much action here because people are still not being allowed to board flights from wherever they are trying to come from,” said Lind.“We’re not seeing as much action here because people are still not being allowed to board flights from wherever they are trying to come from,” said Lind.
“We seeing a sharp decrease in the number of detainees,” said Camille Mackler, with the New York Immigration Coalition. “We haven’t seen anyone come in in many hours. We believe that’s because people are not being allowed to board flights.”“We seeing a sharp decrease in the number of detainees,” said Camille Mackler, with the New York Immigration Coalition. “We haven’t seen anyone come in in many hours. We believe that’s because people are not being allowed to board flights.”
Lind later said that she had heard reports of two further people being detained, one of whom she said was Iraqi.
Mackler stressed that human rights groups’ numbers were inexact, with information being gleaned from elected officials, not directly from immigration authorities. “We suspect ... the number who are not allowed to board is far larger than the 109 number the government has given us.”Mackler stressed that human rights groups’ numbers were inexact, with information being gleaned from elected officials, not directly from immigration authorities. “We suspect ... the number who are not allowed to board is far larger than the 109 number the government has given us.”
Multiple advocacy groups said they were encountering difficulties in getting information from the government about potential detainees.Multiple advocacy groups said they were encountering difficulties in getting information from the government about potential detainees.
“It’s hard to get the fixed number because the Border Patrol still won’t release all the names to the lawyers,” said Henrike Dessaules of the International Refugee Assistance Project.“It’s hard to get the fixed number because the Border Patrol still won’t release all the names to the lawyers,” said Henrike Dessaules of the International Refugee Assistance Project.
A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union said the organization was seeking the same information, to no avail.A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union said the organization was seeking the same information, to no avail.
The order banned entry to the US of travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for 90 days.The order banned entry to the US of travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for 90 days.