Trump's Immigration Order Felt At DFW Airport
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dozens were detained at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration.
Travelers arriving from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen were being stopped as soon as they landed.
Supporters filled the international arrivals area at DFW airport waving signs urging the release of detainees held after their flights touched down on U.S. soil on Saturday.
After being detained at the airport almost all day, some detainees were slowing being released.
A crowd erupted in applause when one Syrian woman who was detained was released Saturday evening.
Syrian woman released at DFW. Family says it's because she has a green card, other detainees have visas. pic.twitter.com/UXvGBirxCA
— Gabriel Roxas (@gabriel__roxas) January 28, 2017
The woman's family told CBS 11 that she was the only detainee with a green card, which leaves several others arriving with visas unclear on what happens to them.
"The ones with the visas, they're so mean to them," said Mariam Yasim, who translating for her mother. "The ones with the visas, they're all on the floor. They're tired. They're all on the floor, and they're treating them really bad."
Family members have been receiving messages from relatives who are detained with updates on their status.
Representatives from the Council on American Islamic Relations were also at the airport to coordinate support efforts.
CAIR told CBS 11 an Iranian man with U.S. citizenship and his wife were released, but activists and immigration attorneys volunteering to help struggled to confirm reports that close to 50 people could still be detained.
SMU student Osama Al Olabi said his parents came to the U.S. to visit him as they have several times before.
Al Olabi said his father is only able to respond with short messages over the phone because of officers in the area of the detainees.
DFW Crowd chants: "no hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here" pic.twitter.com/zJO8yJU8aw
— Gabriel Roxas (@gabriel__roxas) January 29, 2017
A federal judge in New York temporarily barred the United States from deporting travelers with valid visas covered by President Trump's executive order on immigration Saturday evening.
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