An Iranian man who was barred from entering the United States under President Trump’s travel ban returned to Los Angeles on Thursday, the first person allowed into the country after a legal challenge to the White House’s executive order.
Ali Vayeghan was aboard a flight from Qatar that landed at Los Angeles International Airport at 12:40 p.m., said family members and attorneys who took up his case. A roar of approval went up from immigration attorneys and relatives who had gathered at LAX’s Terminal 2 when it was announced that Vayeghan’s plane had landed.
Vayeghan reunited with supporters around 1:30 p.m. after officials allowed him into the U.S.
Flanked by his brother and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Vayeghan was surrounded by a throng of journalists when he emerged. Asked how he felt, he responded in Farsi, which was translated by his niece: “This is what humanity looks like. This is what human rights looks like. I am shocked, honored and awed.”
The Vayeghan family reunited at LAX. Ali is on the left. pic.twitter.com/3Y7Zz5SsI6
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) February 2, 2017
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