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Yemeni mum arrives in US to visit dying son in California | Yemeni mum arrives in US to visit dying son in California |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Yemeni mother of a toddler dying in the US has arrived in California to visit him after the Trump administration relaxed its travel ban. | The Yemeni mother of a toddler dying in the US has arrived in California to visit him after the Trump administration relaxed its travel ban. |
Shaima Swileh, who currently lives in Egypt, was initially prevented from entering America. | Shaima Swileh, who currently lives in Egypt, was initially prevented from entering America. |
Her son, two-year-old Abdullah Hassan, was born with a brain disease that doctors say he will not survive. | Her son, two-year-old Abdullah Hassan, was born with a brain disease that doctors say he will not survive. |
Abdullah's father, Ali Hassan, 22, has said the visit will allow the couple to "mourn with dignity". | Abdullah's father, Ali Hassan, 22, has said the visit will allow the couple to "mourn with dignity". |
Mrs Swileh landed at San Francisco International Airport late on Wednesday and was greeted by crowds of well-wishers. | |
She is now expected to travel to the children's hospital in the city where her son is currently on life support. | |
The Department of State granted Mrs Swileh permission to enter the US on Tuesday morning, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a non-profit advocacy group representing the family. | The Department of State granted Mrs Swileh permission to enter the US on Tuesday morning, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a non-profit advocacy group representing the family. |
Thousands of emails were sent to officials along with tweets and letters from members of Congress in support of the family, according to CAIR. | Thousands of emails were sent to officials along with tweets and letters from members of Congress in support of the family, according to CAIR. |
"We are so relieved that this mother will get to hold and kiss her son one last time," CAIR-Sacramento attorney Saad Sweilem said earlier. | "We are so relieved that this mother will get to hold and kiss her son one last time," CAIR-Sacramento attorney Saad Sweilem said earlier. |
"The public outpouring of support for this family was incredible." | "The public outpouring of support for this family was incredible." |
The organisation also rebuked the government for enforcing the travel ban to begin with, saying the toddler "could have been receiving comfort from his mother" for weeks. | The organisation also rebuked the government for enforcing the travel ban to begin with, saying the toddler "could have been receiving comfort from his mother" for weeks. |
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. |
State department spokesperson Robert Palladino suggested his officers' hands were tied by the law but that they tried to do the right thing in all circumstances. | State department spokesperson Robert Palladino suggested his officers' hands were tied by the law but that they tried to do the right thing in all circumstances. |
"It is a very sad case and our thoughts go out to this family and this time, but I would also add, that we are governed by the immigration and nationality act," he said. | "It is a very sad case and our thoughts go out to this family and this time, but I would also add, that we are governed by the immigration and nationality act," he said. |
What is the family's situation? | What is the family's situation? |
Abdullah and his father are US citizens but Mrs Swileh is a citizen of Yemen. | Abdullah and his father are US citizens but Mrs Swileh is a citizen of Yemen. |
The family had moved to Cairo, Egypt, in order to escape civil war in Yemen when Abdullah was eight months old. | The family had moved to Cairo, Egypt, in order to escape civil war in Yemen when Abdullah was eight months old. |
Abdullah was diagnosed with hypomyelination - a brain disease affecting his ability to breathe. | Abdullah was diagnosed with hypomyelination - a brain disease affecting his ability to breathe. |
About three months ago, Mr Hassan brought his son to California for treatment. When doctors in Oakland informed him Abdullah's condition was terminal, Mrs Swileh applied for a visa to join her husband and son. | About three months ago, Mr Hassan brought his son to California for treatment. When doctors in Oakland informed him Abdullah's condition was terminal, Mrs Swileh applied for a visa to join her husband and son. |
The family says they received a rejection letter from the state department, citing the US president's travel ban, and had been fighting for a waiver ever since. | The family says they received a rejection letter from the state department, citing the US president's travel ban, and had been fighting for a waiver ever since. |
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