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US 'bans Yemen mum from visiting dying toddler in California' | US 'bans Yemen mum from visiting dying toddler in California' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Yemeni mother of a dying boy in California is being prevented from seeing him due to a US ban on visitors from her country, the family says. | The Yemeni mother of a dying boy in California is being prevented from seeing him due to a US ban on visitors from her country, the family says. |
Two-year-old Abdullah Hassan was born with a brain disease that doctors say he will not survive. | Two-year-old Abdullah Hassan was born with a brain disease that doctors say he will not survive. |
His relatives say his mother wants to see him one last time before they take him off life-support. | His relatives say his mother wants to see him one last time before they take him off life-support. |
His father says the boy's mother cannot come to the US due to the Trump administration's travel ban. | His father says the boy's mother cannot come to the US due to the Trump administration's travel ban. |
Though Abdullah and his father were born in Yemen, they are American, says the family. | |
"All she wishes is to hold his hand for the last time," the boy's father, Ali Hassan, 22, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday. | "All she wishes is to hold his hand for the last time," the boy's father, Ali Hassan, 22, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday. |
He said the boy would probably die if he is taken to Egypt, where his mother is currently living. | He said the boy would probably die if he is taken to Egypt, where his mother is currently living. |
Mr Hassan's wife, Shaima Swileh, is currently seeking a waiver from the US Department of State to travel to the US urgently. | Mr Hassan's wife, Shaima Swileh, is currently seeking a waiver from the US Department of State to travel to the US urgently. |
What is the US travel ban? | What is the US travel ban? |
Soon after he took office, US President Donald Trump imposed travel restrictions on mainly majority Muslim countries. | Soon after he took office, US President Donald Trump imposed travel restrictions on mainly majority Muslim countries. |
The executive order went through several versions before being upheld by the US Supreme Court this summer. | The executive order went through several versions before being upheld by the US Supreme Court this summer. |
It bans nationals of Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the US. | It bans nationals of Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the US. |
'Unfathomably cruel' | 'Unfathomably cruel' |
Saad Sweilem, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is advocating for the family to be reunited, said barring Abdullah's mother was "unfathomably cruel." | Saad Sweilem, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is advocating for the family to be reunited, said barring Abdullah's mother was "unfathomably cruel." |
Mr Hassan's family came to California in the early 1980s, but maintained close ties with their native Yemen. | |
His son Abdullah was diagnosed with hypomyelination, a brain disease that has affected his ability to breathe. | |
When he was eight months old, the family moved from Yemen to Cairo to escape that country's civil war. | When he was eight months old, the family moved from Yemen to Cairo to escape that country's civil war. |
About three months ago, Mr Hassan brought his son to the US for treatment, with the expectation that his wife would later join them. | About three months ago, Mr Hassan brought his son to the US for treatment, with the expectation that his wife would later join them. |
But after doctors in Oakland, California, informed him that the boy's condition was terminal, the family applied for her to travel to the US. | But after doctors in Oakland, California, informed him that the boy's condition was terminal, the family applied for her to travel to the US. |
They say they received a rejection letter from the state department, citing the US president's travel ban. | They say they received a rejection letter from the state department, citing the US president's travel ban. |
A state department official who did not wish to be named refused to discuss the specific case due to confidentiality laws. | A state department official who did not wish to be named refused to discuss the specific case due to confidentiality laws. |
But the official told the BBC they make "every effort to facilitate legitimate travel by international visitors". | But the official told the BBC they make "every effort to facilitate legitimate travel by international visitors". |
"We are also fully committed to administering US immigration law and ensuring the integrity and security of our country's borders." | "We are also fully committed to administering US immigration law and ensuring the integrity and security of our country's borders." |
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