Somalis rush to airports as US judge halts travel ban

By Mohammed Dhaysane & Hassan Isilow

MOGASDISHU (AA) - Dozens of Somalis holding U.S. Green Cards and visas rushed to board flights bound to the United States Sunday after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s travel ban affecting seven Muslim countries.

“At least 10 Somali nationals holding both visas and Green Cards have boarded Turkish Airlines to Dubai, where they will proceed to the United States,” a senior Somali immigration official told Anadolu Agency Sunday on condition of anonymity.

The official further revealed that 20 more Somalis are expected to fly to the United States Monday.

Asma Aboukar, a U.S. Green card holder who was visiting family in the Somali capital Mogadishu said she was hurrying to travel back to the U.S. before President Trump appeals the federal judge’s ruling.

"We are trying our luck to reach the United States. We are very hopeful we shall get there," Asma told Anadolu Agency at the Adan Adde airport in Mogadishu.

Turkish Airlines is the only international air company that flies from Somali to Istanbul.

Last week, when Trump signed an executive order temporarily banning refugees and travelers from Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Iran and Iraq, U.S. Green Card holders from those countries, who had traveled out the U.S., were denied entry upon arrival.

Trump’s executive order drew global criticism and protests in major western citizens.

Kenyan and Ethiopian airlines have been turning away Somali nationals who wish to travel to the U.S. despite the court's recent temporary suspension of the travel ban.

A senior official from Kenya Airports Authority who wished not to be named confirmed to Anadolu Agency that Somalis in Kenya seeking to travel to the U.S. were being turned away.

"Yes it is actually happening, though I don't know why they are being turned away as the ban has been lifted." the official said.

In Ethiopia, airport official said they were waiting for a government directive before letting Somalis and Sudanese on board.

Most of the turned away, flew to Johannesburg where some have already boarded flights to the U.S. and others are still waiting.

“I took a Somali couple who flew in from Nairobi to OR Tambo International Airport where they were allowed to board a flight to the U.S.,” Mohammed Hussein, a Johannesburg based Somali taxi driver told Anadolu Agency Sunday.

Ali Dahir, a Somali businessman based in Johannesburg, also confirmed that he had escorted his uncle and cousin to board flights to the U.S. on Sunday.

“They came to visit us a week before president Trump made his executive orders. They were stranded here,” Dahir said, adding that “I pray they are allowed to enter back into the U.S. because they have Green Cards,” he said.

However, Somali Embassy cultural attaché Abdi Halane Hirsi said he was not aware of any Somalis with Green Cards who had been stranded in South Africa.

“Our office has not received such information as yet. But we are aware many are now rushing to board flights from Mogadishu,” he told Anadolu Agency Sunday.

*Magdalene Mukami contributed to report from Kenya, and Addis Getachew from Ethiopia