As tens of thousands protested across the United States, the Trump administration reversed itself late Sunday, announcing that the president’s executive order barring entry to citizens of seven, Muslim-majority nations no longer applies to more than 500,000 green card holders.
On Saturday, as officials scrambled to implement the hastily issued order, the agency’s acting spokeswoman told Reuters “it will bar green card holders” originally from those nations. Dozens of green-card holders, making them permanent legal residents of the United States, were detained at airports across the country, along with previously vetted refugees from the seven nations, prompting spontaneous protests.
“In applying the provisions of the president’s executive order, I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest,” John Kelly, the new head of the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.
“Accordingly, absent the receipt of significant derogatory information indicating a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determinations,” Kelly added.
That Kelly’s statement came 10 hours after an earlier one, which made no mention of an exemption for those holding green cards, suggested that the policy was being crafted by discussions after, instead of before, Donald Trump issued the order.
For his part, Trump insisted that it was not accurate to call his ban on travel from the seven, Muslim-majority nations a “Muslim ban,” insisting that it was about preventing terrorism, even though not one American has been killed by a traveler from one of those nations.
That claim was also undermined by his adviser Rudy Giuliani boasting to Fox News that he had helped draw up the order after being asked by Trump how to make good on his campaign promise to impose, “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”
Rudy Giuliani admits the immigration order was intended as a Muslim ban, seemingly not understanding that judges care about that kinda stuff pic.twitter.com/idtLMaz5HD
— Kenneth Lipp (@kennethlipp) January 29, 2017
The sudden about-face by the Trump administration came as protesters rallied against the order in dozens of cities and at airports, where lawyers and members of Congress worked to free detained travelers who had boarded flights with valid U.S. visas. There were several reports of Customs and Border Protection agents refusing to allow access to the detainees, in apparent violation of court orders from federal judges in several states.
There were mass demonstrations in New York, Boston, Washington and Seattle, and demonstrators packed airports from coast to coast, in support of those still detained.
Huge crowd demonstrating against Trump's #MuslimBan @ Battery Park overlooking Statue of Liberty! @NYCLU @ACLU pic.twitter.com/jpld41xr62
— Jamil Dakwar (@jdakwar) January 29, 2017
Here is a selection of social media images and video clips from other protests across the nation.
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
A woman detained for hours after arriving from Iraq is reunited with her son, who is in the United States Army, according to @RepJeffries pic.twitter.com/I4w5BGIHVP
— katie honan (@katie_honan) January 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/johnsifton/status/825902461672095747
Portland International Airport, Oregon
No ban no wall! #ResistTrump #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/njVvGsPDhD
— Janet Weiss (@jazzzhand) January 29, 2017
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia
Crowd seems to only be getting larger at @ATLairport. Chant: "No hate no fear, refugees are welcome here." #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/GR0OboAGPS
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) January 29, 2017
My people pic.twitter.com/ElAy5l62rg
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) January 29, 2017
Indianapolis International Airport, Indiana
https://twitter.com/jeremyaflick/status/825834549062033410
The Indianapolis Airport was at capacity. Messages were of love, courage, and empathy. Inspired. pic.twitter.com/VcYrtNrY5J
— You're On Your Own, King ?? (@HeyMichaelKing) January 29, 2017
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama. I'd call this 3,000 now. pic.twitter.com/Qenz18BBMF
— Blake Ells (@blakeells) January 29, 2017
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Illinois
Syrian family reunited after three family members detained for hours, protesters at O'Hare welcome them with cheers. pic.twitter.com/zRwd5uTeFP
— Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) January 29, 2017
Barius Elhalabi, the 19-year-old Lebanese man held with an American passport, said agents asked him, "Do you love your country?" pic.twitter.com/3Jly9zzit4
— Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) January 29, 2017
Another family, Syrian, with three small children is still waiting for three travelers, all of which have US green cards.
— Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) January 29, 2017
Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan
Detroit metro airport right now #muslimban #nowallnoban pic.twitter.com/IZ0ErCL8Ak
— n0adderall4u (@docn0xanax) January 29, 2017
I am unapologetically Somali, Black, and Muslim!! #NoBanNoWall #BeingBlackAndMuslim #BlackLivesMatter #NoMuslimBan pic.twitter.com/dYgS4muKJZ
— Rajoweyn (@AshaMNoor) January 29, 2017
Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania
In case you're wondering what it's like at the Airport. It's electric. "This is what democracy looks like." Peaceful protest in Philly. pic.twitter.com/u8aJ2TRBp2
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) January 29, 2017
Taxi drivers stop service at Philadelphia Airport in solidarity with protests of refugee ban #NoWallNoBan #PhillyResists #phlairport pic.twitter.com/GPAYZw9rLe
— Philly We Rise (@phillywerise) January 29, 2017
Los Angeles International Airport, California
The crowd at LAX is getting bigger and bigger. pic.twitter.com/dJ281TETXj
— Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017
Ton of people here at LAX today. Enough that the lower level road is closed. pic.twitter.com/GNPGMM6gUs
— Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017
Inside LAX airport in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/KuEB4HaEbl
— Alex Kantrowitz (@Kantrowitz) January 29, 2017
San Francisco International Airport, California
https://twitter.com/sanasaleem/status/825860935424233472
https://twitter.com/sanasaleem/status/825877082873819137
Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexico
https://twitter.com/amina_eve/status/825892865561628672
Providence, Rhode Island
Rhode Island State House.#NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/OOgPZViQvx
— ((( Nomi ))) (@msnomir) January 29, 2017
Boston, Massachusetts
Proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mayor @marty_walsh, @SenMarkey, @CAIRMass & 20k+ people in Boston today to say #NoBanNoWall. pic.twitter.com/Uar90gJOa7
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 29, 2017
Seattle, Washington
Seattle stands up. People as far as we can see. #RefugeesWelcome pic.twitter.com/LXBT2d01AG
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 30, 2017
Here's a look at the crowd in Seattle for immigration ban protest. Watch live >> https://t.co/MEC7ItdUv2 pic.twitter.com/Nk2oggQ6rc
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) January 30, 2017
Boise Airport, Idaho
Over 600 people protest at Boise Airport to oppose Trump immigration banhttps://t.co/WVs3owpQaL pic.twitter.com/xbcxQhdTOd
— Idaho Statesman (@IdahoStatesman) January 29, 2017
Washington, D.C.
Thousands of ppl marching past the @Newseum as they protest Trump's exec orders. They chant "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here!" pic.twitter.com/l5LNhYgVBs
— Joseph Zeballos-Roig (@josephzeballos) January 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/AnthroPaulicy/status/825824319221747712
We will fight against racism. We will fight against anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will fight against those who will marginalize who we are. pic.twitter.com/R54f3MDhvo
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2017
Washington Dulles International Airport
Attorneys at Dulles now reporting green card holders are supposed to be let thru–"order no longer applies to them". No explanation why.
— Damon Silvers (@DamonSilvers) January 29, 2017
CBP appears to be saying people in their custody not "detained" technically & Dulles international arrivals areas not in the United States
— Damon Silvers (@DamonSilvers) January 29, 2017
We have a constitutional crisis today. Four Members of Congress asked CBP officials to enforce a federal court order and were turned away.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/mirriam71/status/825795664323997696
Rep. @GerryConnolly on phone at Dulles w someone he said is in CBP cong rel office. @jamie_raskin and @DonBeyerVA also here. Watch to end pic.twitter.com/tBMHoyX3YG
— Yeganeh Torbati (@yjtorbati) January 29, 2017
Lawyers @DFWAirport have secured & confirmed release of 10th detainee today. We thank the support of the peaceful protesters. @AngelaHunt
— Lawyer Pete Schulte (@AttyPeteSchulte) January 29, 2017
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Crowds cheering because all detainees at #DFW have been released ? #DfwAirport #DFWProtest pic.twitter.com/dr0PTFqIT9
— Samstaa (@samstaa) January 30, 2017
Moments ago, @JudgeClayJ and I greeted travelers who were detained at @DFWAirport since yesterday. We are very sorry. pic.twitter.com/BHFkpFwNzI
— Mike Rawlings (@Mike_Rawlings) January 29, 2017
From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to those detained this weekend and their families. All 9 ppl detained yesterday now released. pic.twitter.com/kPdzk2DCiF
— Mike Rawlings (@Mike_Rawlings) January 29, 2017