Trump Travel Restrictions Prompt Protests at Airports Across US
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Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order clamping down on refugee admissions and temporarily restricting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, the impact was already resonating at airports around the world.
The Trump administration had not yet issued guidance to airports and airlines on how to implement the executive order. "Nobody has any idea what is going on," a senior Homeland Security official told NBC News.
By Saturday night, a federal judge had issued an emergency order temporarily barring the U.S. from deporting people from nations subject to Trump's travel ban.
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in New York issued the emergency order after lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union filed a court petition on behalf of people from seven predominantly Muslim nations who were detained at airports across the country as the ban took effect.
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Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017, in New York City. President Trump signed a controversial executive order the day before that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.
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People gather for a rally in New York's Battery Park in New York, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, as they protest against President Donald Trump's executive order banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. The list of countries does not include Saudi Arabia, which is where most of the 9/11 terrorists were from.
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Actress Cynthia Nixon joins protestors rallying against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017.
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Demonstrators rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017 in New York City.
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Demonstrators gather outside Tom Bradley International Terminal during a protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations, at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017.
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Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017.
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Demonstrators rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
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Tom Perez, former Secretary of Labor under President Obama and current candidate to lead the DNC joins protesters at Houston International Airport Saturday.
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Demonstrators rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017.
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People opposed to President Donald Trump's executive order barring entry to the U.S. by Muslims from certain countries demonstrate at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017, in Los Angeles.
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While demonstrators marching inside to the Tom Bradley international Terminal, Airport police officers try to stop them at rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, United States on Saturday.
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Demonstrators rally during a protest against President Donald Trump's Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017.
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Demonstrators rally during a protest against President Donald Trump's Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017.
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A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally against Muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport on January 28, 2017 in San Francisco, California.
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A police officer walks past demonstrators at the international arrival terminal at San Francisco International Airport during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration.
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A demonstrator takes a photograph during a rally against muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport.
A woman holds a sign during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco International Airport.
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A demonstrator holds a plaque during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco International Airport.
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Demonstrators block traffic at the international arrival terminal as they protest against Muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport.
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A young girl joins hundreds of people protesting at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday.
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Protesters gather at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Saturday in Dallas, Texas.
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Protesters gather to denounce President Donald Trump's executive order at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on January 28, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.
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Protesters gather at the international arrivals area of the Washington Dulles International Airport, Jan. 28, 2017, in Sterling, Virginia.
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Protesters stand together at the Miami International Airport against the executive order that President Donald Trump signed clamping down on refugee admissions and temporarily restricting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, Jan. 29, 2017, in Miami, Florida.
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Protesters stand together at the Miami International Airport against the executive order that President Donald Trump signed clamping down on refugee admissions and temporarily restricting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, Jan. 29, 2017, in Miami, Florida.
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Demonstrators gather near The White House to protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, Jan. 29, 2017, in Washington, DC.
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Demonstrators gather near The White House to protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, Jan. 29, 2017, in Washington, DC.
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Muslim women pray during a protest in Copley Square in Boston, Jan. 29, 2017.
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People take part in a protest against President Trump's executive orders on immigration in Copley Square in Boston, Jan. 29, 2017.
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Protesters pause while attending a rally in lower Manhattan against President Donald Trump's new immigration policies, Jan. 29, 2017, in New York City.
As the decision was announced, cheers broke out in crowds of demonstrators who had gathered at American airports and outside the Brooklyn courthouse where the ruling was issued.
Prior to the judge's ruling, demonstrators amassed at airports across the country in protest of the order. Hundreds gathered at John F. Kennedy Airport where 12 refugees were detained Saturday.
The protest was planned for 6 p.m. CST in O’Hare’s International Terminal 5, though dozens arrived at the airport hours earlier, including several volunteer attorneys who gathered to assist travelers entangled in the ban.
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, a crowd of protesters grew into the hundreds as the night went on, and chants of "set them free" grew louder.
West coast activists hosted a #MuslimBan protest Saturday afternoon at the international arrivals section of San Francisco International Airport. Protesters were carrying signs reading #NotInOurName, #NeverAgain and END the #MuslimBan, according to an event page.
Holding up signs that read “Give me your tired and huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” “Protect Immigrants” and “Build a wall – We will tear it down,” demonstrators also gathered Saturday afternoon at San Diego International Airport.
Protesters including Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney gathered at Philadelphia International Airport Saturday, with another protest set to take place at the airport Sunday afternoon. An attorney with the ACLU of Pennsylvania told NBC10 that three adults from Qatar were being detained there, and two Syrian families were briefly detained there Saturday before being sent back on a return flight to the Middle East.
More than 120 people clutching signs denouncing the Trump immigration orders gathered at Newark Liberty International Airport. NorthJersey.com reported that they joined lawyers who'd rushed to the airport to defend the rights of refugees and immigrants who were being detained and denied entry.
Dozens of people converged on Denver International to show their support for refugees. Standing in the main terminal Saturday, they sang "Refugees are welcome here." Some held signs declaring their identity, such as Jew or Christian, and the phrase "I come in peace." Denver has some direct international flights but it wasn't clear whether anyone has been detained under the president's executive order.
A protest by several dozen people in and around Portland International Airport briefly disrupted light rail service at the airport. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the demonstrators carried signs and chanted "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" and "No ban no wall America is for us all."
About 300 people expressed their displeasure with the ban at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday night. Protesters entered the airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal after holding a candlelight vigil.
Demonstrators also took to the streets, rallying in cities like Boston, where protesters marched against policies organizers were calling "anti-immigrant and unconstitutional."
