An Iraqi family was barred from flying from Cairo to New York on
Saturday after US President Donald Trump signed an order restricting
arrivals from seven Muslim countries.
Egyptian officials said the family had visas and were in transit when
they were prevented from boarding the EgyptAir plane to New York’s JFK
airport.
Fuad Sharef, 51, and his wife and three children were instead forced to
board a flight back to Arbil in Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan,
he told AFP.
Trump had on Friday signed a sweeping executive order to suspend refugee
arrivals and impose tough controls on travellers from Iran, Iraq,
Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“I had sold my house, my car, my furniture. I resigned from work and so did my wife. I took
my children out of school,” said Sharef of the family’s preparations to
resettle in Nashville, Tennessee under a special immigrant visa.
Back in Arbil, the pharmaceutical industry manager, who had previously
worked for an NGO subcontracted by the US aid agency, said he was
devastated.
“Donald Trump destroyed my life. My family’s life. I used to think
America was a state of institutions but it’s as though it’s a
dictatorship,” he said.
“For a decision like this to come out and be implemented immediately, and against whom? Against a valid visa holder.”
“I put my life at risk, working with the Americans at a time that it could have gotten you killed,” he added.
The family had been barred at Cairo after a flight manifest was sent to
JFK airport, which responded with instructions that they were not to
board, according to airport officials.
EgyptAir’s website has not provided updated travel advice for the United States.
Qatar Airways, one of the largest Middle East airlines, said on its
website that citizens of those seven countries could still travel to the
United States if they had a permanent residence permit.
The Qatari travel alert said government officials and their immediate
family members, as well as representatives of international
organisations were exempt from the restrictions.
AFP
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