Boston’s Logan International Airport was filled with cheers, tears, and hugs as detained refugees and immigrants returned to the United States.
Saira Rafiee, a doctoral student at the City University of New York, spent 18 hours held in Abu David before being sent back to Iran.
“It was really frustrating because I was in line checking in when he signed the order,” Rafiee explained. “I had no clue whether I could continue my studies.”
But after a federal judge granted an emergency restraining order against the travel restrictions, several travelers are relieved they can finally come home.
“Just now that I see her I feel comfortable with the whole chaos,” added Hooma Koohi, who had been separated from her mother.
Now, after a week of uncertainty, families are able to reunite.
Immigration lawyers continue their "public practice" with free legal help to those flying in from the seven countries listed in the travel ban. Today they say there has been no issue getting people into the country.
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"We really needed that ruling because today, we met people who had flown here from California, from Oregon just to meet their family. Now they have to fly back across the country,” said Dierdre Giblen, an immigration lawyer.
"The Seattle ruling is great and fortunate. Our temporary restraining order will expire at the end of Sunday, but because of the Seattle order, we don't expect to see any changes in Boston,” says immigration lawyer Kerry Doyle.
The Department of Homeland Security says after the Seattle ruling, they have suspended any and all actions implementing the president's executive order.
“It's as if it never happened,” says Love Macione, another immigration lawyer. “Tomorrow might quiet down here, but who knows what's going to happen next week cause everyone is going to be flying into the various airports once the travel ban's been lifted.”
