Palestinian Travelers Denied Entry To U.S. At San Francisco Airport

SAN FRANCISCO — Two Palestinian travelers who arrived Wednesday at San Francisco International Airport to participate in a series of Bay Area interfaith events were denied entry to the country by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and have since been put on a return flight, according to local officials.

Eid Hthaleen and Ouda Alhadlin landed in San Francisco around 1 p.m. Wednesday but their visas were “cancelled on entry” and “invalidated without cause,” according to San Francisco District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood.

“This is yet another example of an escalating constitutional crisis in our country,” Mahmood said in a social media post. “If people coming to our country with valid visas are turned away, what does this mean for the rest of our country?”

A large crowd gathered Thursday at the airport, with videos circulating on social media showing protesters bearing signs calling for the travelers’ release and chanting “Let Them Go.”

Despite intervention from U.S. Reps. Lateefah Simon and Nancy Pelosi, the two were put on a plane to leave the U.S. on Thursday afternoon, according to Rabbi David Cooper of Kehilla Community Synagogue, which is one of the faith communities that was to host Hthaleen and Alhadlin this week.

“The Trump Administration’s approach to immigration has been utterly chaotic, inhumane, and disruptive to communities across the nation,” the Bay Area Congressional Delegation, which includes Simon and Pelosi, said Thursday in a prepared statement.

“Last night’s detainment of two Palestinian travelers who flew into SFO with valid visas is yet another example of Trump’s needlessly cruel actions. These visitors arrived here at the invitation of Bay Area interfaith community leaders.”

In addition to the event Friday with Kehilla Community Synagogue, Hthaleen and Alhadlin, who are from Masafer Yatta on the West Bank, also had events planned with Los Altos United Methodist Church and Buena Vista United Methodist Church.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not respond to requests for comment from multiple news outlets.