Today, as a result of Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, two Iraqi men were detained at New York’s JFK International Airport, Hameed Darwish, who worked for the U.S. government in Iraq as a translator in less racist times, from 2003 to 2013, and 11 others, who if they had been Christian, would likely have been passed right through.
Democratic Representatives, Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velazquez, who represent the 10th and 7th districts, respectively, marched today on JFK. Nadler called Trump’s immigration order “is discriminatory…and frankly quite disgusting” and Velazquez said, “Mr. President, look at us. This is America. What you have done is shameful.”
At JFK now with @NydiaVelazquez to help refugees detained by Trump’s shameful order. pic.twitter.com/jiN5bWBfnw
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017
At #JFK with @RepJerryNadler demanding release of refugees detained under new Executive Order. pic.twitter.com/4hcEarfrjw
— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) January 28, 2017
Watch courtesy of CNN:
.@NydiaVelazquez outside JFK airport: “Mr President, look at us! This is America. What you have done is shameful!” https://t.co/0Uoz3d59aD
— CNN (@CNN) January 28, 2017
Reps. Nadler and Velazquez issued the following joint statement:
“Today, we saw in real human terms the damage and the absurdity of Trump’s policies. The president’s executive order is mean-spirited, ill-conceived, and ill-advised. The order almost banned a man from entering the country who has worked for the United States government for 10 years, who risked his life to help us and to help our troops, and who loves our country. Thankfully, we did not sit idly by. We took action. We demanded his release, and the release of the others who are being unlawfully detained. We are pleased to announce that Hameed Khalid Darweesh has been released and can now be reunited with his family.
“This should not happen in America. We shouldn’t have to demand the release of refugees one by one. We must fight this executive order in the streets, in the courts, anywhere, anytime. We must resist. We must fight. We must keep working to keep America the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Meanwhile, two of the Iraqis, including Darweesh, who called America “the greatest nation in the world,” have filed a lawsuit against Trump and the US government. The other man, Haider Sameer Abdulkaleq Alshawi, is still being held at JFK.
Photo: Twitter @RepJerrynadler