President Trump signed an executive order Friday which put a 90-day ban on entry to the US from the predominantly Muslim countries of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. The Executive Order also suspends the entry of refugees into the United States for 120 days and puts an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. The order became effective immediately, leaving people flying in from the 7 countries confused and scared when they were detained upon arrival. Among those detained, were children, parents, and elderly people with family waiting to pick them up. Rallies broke out at airports across the country to show support for the detainees and resentment for the EO, one of the most notable being held at Dulles Airport both Saturday and Sunday. The mood created by the rallies throughout the weekend was one of solidarity.
“There was solidarity and support everywhere,” says Naveen Bokhari, a Muslim-American woman who was in attendance at the rally. “As a Muslim American who has spent most of my life growing up in the DMV I have never seen so many people come out so strongly to support the rights of Muslims, minorities, and refugees.”
The number of people at the airport both nights was in the 500+ range; the crowd was made up of lawyers, veterans, and average civilians alike. People from all walks of life gathered to support one common cause, solidarity with immigrants and refugees. The rally was also joined by government officials such as Cory Booker, and local members of the House of Representatives, though they were not allowed to speak with detainees or Customs and Border Patrol.
“I have traveled around the world and seen beautiful and loving people everywhere,” said Chris Fafard, who attended the rally with his wife. “I have seen more hatred here than anywhere. I know there are misguided people in every country, but our administration’s actions on refugees and immigrants are unconscionable and signal worse things ahead. So we came to the airport to raise our voices and stand with tolerance, love, and reason.”
Love was expressed towards the detainees throughout the night, the crowd of rallies bursting into cheers and cries of “Welcome home!” as they were released. Though the reason for the rally was anything but positive, the overall mood of the space was. At one point, ralliers came together with a ukulele player to sing “This Land is Your Land,” in English and in Spanish.
According to Jill Goldenziel, a professor of International Law & International Relations.at Marine Corps University in Quantico, said that the protests were peaceful and positive. “It was a very peaceful protest. I was at the women’s march last weekend so it was similar to that, a lot of the same signs and same chants. But instead of ‘this is what democracy looks like,’ people were chanting ‘this is what America looks like!’ Every time someone got off a plane whether they were people in detention or not, everybody gave big cheers, and helped people find the lawyers that were there.”
Claire Gastanaga, a recovering lawyer with the ACLU, also commented on the positivity surrounding the event.
“Powerful illustration of patriots in action. Most there because they were inspired to stand up for the values that did make America great: love for country, love for the diversity of that country, love for freedom, liberty and equality.”
That said, a prevalent negative theme throughout the weekend was lawyers not being able to meet with detainees. Immigration lawyers showed up in the 100s at Dulles ready to assist the detainees and their families, only to be met with opposition. Saturday, a federal judge from the Eastern District of Virginia ordered respondents, who include CBP and the president to “permit lawyers access to all legal permanent residents being detained at Dulles International Airport.” But Sunday, a border agent told lawyers that agents were instructed not to speak with them. A border agent who agreed to bring the lawyers’ request for access to those being detained, as well as a copy of the order issued Saturday to her supervisor, came back saying “It’s not going to happen.”
Lawyers will continue to work at Dulles throughout the week, and for however long they need to, ralliers will be joining them to help in whatever ways they can.
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