In the chaotic aftermath of U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration ban, news has emerged that Sri Lankan nationals also among 71 individuals from 20 countries were detained Tuesday at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Asian Correspondent reported. Most of them were not on the U.S. travel blacklist.
Those detained, according to No Ban JFK, a coalition of volunteer attorneys camped out at JFK, include a Malaysian and a Chinese national, as well as travelers from Turkey, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, France, Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Senegal, Switzerland, Algeria, Egypt and Guinea.
Others in the lawyers’ list released on social media include travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya, five of the seven countries named in Trump’s ban. The remaining two are Yemen and Somalia.
Camille Mackler, Director of Legal Initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), pointed out in a statement that the detentions prove the ban affects more than just the seven targeted countries.
“And the turmoil inflicted by this sudden disruption is spilling over into the broader United States, as family members desperately seek to reunite with their loved ones.
“Students and professionals continue to be blocked from their homes, schools and workplaces,” she said in the statement released by No Ban JFK.
She added that the attorneys at JFK have stayed put since Trump issued the executive order on Friday, offering legal assistance to those caught in the U.S. government’s immigration dragnet.
“We are especially concerned with individuals being prevented from boarding flights at points of departure,” Mackler said. The team of pro-bono lawyers and volunteers at JFK are being coordinated by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and NYIC.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has interdicted Colombo Fort Magistrate Kosala Senadheera.
Mr. Ali Sabri Rahim, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Puttalam District whom an open warrant had been issued, attended a public ceremony at Al Aksha National School in Kalpitiya today (16) as the special guest of honor.
The Supreme Court today refused interim relief in an application filed by President’s Counsel Senaka Walgampaya seeking an Order from the Supreme Court compelling the President to appoint judges to fill the existing vacancies in the Court Of Appeal.
Gazette on new speed limit regulations to be issued within two weeks
Two underworld criminals wanted for multiple crimes, including murder, were brought from Dubai to Sri Lanka, today (12).
Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena has been sent on compulsory leave pending disciplinary investigation over his failure to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings.
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