Iraqi Refugees Detained at JFK as Trump’s Muslim Ban Takes Effect: Reports

By Michael P. Ventura, NEW YORK CITY — Two Iraqi refugees were detained at John F. Kennedy Airport Saturday as President Donald Trump’s executive order cracking down on refugees and immigrants from certain Muslim countries took effect, the New York Times reported. Trump signed the order Friday that blocked entry for Syrian refugees indefinitely and all others for 120 days. It blocked entry for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days, the paper reported. Those countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. One of the Iraqis detained at JFK had worked for the United States government and military in Iraq for 10 years as an interpreter, engineer and contractor, the Times reported. The other was coming to join his wife and son who live in Texas. Lawyers for the men filed petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the Eastern District of New York, petitioning the court for the men to be released. Both men had valid visas and documents to enter the United States, the lawyers wrote. dnainfo.com/new-york.