Iraqis And Afghans Who Helped U.S. Among First Detained Under Trump's Ban

NEW YORK Iraqi and Afghan refugees who helped U.S. war efforts were among those detained at airports Friday night after President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting Muslims and refugees.

Hameed Khalid Darweesh and Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, Iraqis with ties to U.S. operations overseas, were detained late Friday at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. Darweesh had worked for the U.S. government for 10 years, including as an interpreter. Darweeshs wife and children were let through, but Darweesh was not, Brandon Friedman, a former colleague of Darweeshs, told The Huffington Post.

Pleased to announce w/@NydiaVelazquez the release of Hameed Jhalid Darweesh from detention at JFK. pic.twitter.com/AeKDhIPp7k

(((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"(((Rep. Nadler)))","author_url":"https://twitter.com/RepJerryNadler","cache_age":86400,"description":"Pleased to announce w/@NydiaVelazquez the release of Hameed Jhalid Darweesh from detention at JFK. pic.twitter.com/AeKDhIPp7k— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"(((Rep. Nadler))) on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/RepJerryNadler/status/825397655048171521","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/iraqis-us-interpreter-contractor-first-detained_n_588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,us-news,must-reads,international-news,refugees,new-york,iraq,united-states,iraq-war,muslim-world,us-government,john-f-kennedy-international-airport,san-francisco-international-airport,afghan-diaspora,@genassign,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"theworldpost","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":13},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":981465,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"must reads","slug":"must-reads","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/must-reads","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/must-reads","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/must-reads"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Must Reads","slug":"must-reads","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/must-reads"},{"name":"International News","slug":"international-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/international-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":980522,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"International News","slug":"international-news","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/international-news"},{"name":"Refugees","slug":"refugees","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/refugees","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/refugees","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/refugees"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Migrant And Refugee Crisis","slug":"migrant-crisis","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/migrant-crisis"},{"name":"New York","slug":"new-york","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/new-york","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/new-york","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/new-york"},"relegenceId":3975188,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"New York","slug":"new-york","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/new-york"},{"name":"Iraq","slug":"iraq","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/iraq","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq"},"relegenceId":3971258,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Middle East","slug":"middle-east","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/middle-east"},{"name":"united states","slug":"united-states","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states"},"relegenceId":3804968,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"Iraq war","slug":"iraq-war","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/iraq-war","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq-war","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq-war"},"relegenceId":3851645,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"War Wire","slug":"warwire","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/warwire"},{"name":"Muslim world","slug":"muslim-world","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/muslim-world","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/muslim-world","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/muslim-world"},"relegenceId":5419602,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Muslims","slug":"muslims","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/muslims"},{"name":"u.s. government","slug":"us-government","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-government","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government"},"relegenceId":3534855,"url":"https://action.news/topic/us-government"},{"name":"John F. Kennedy International Airport","slug":"john-f-kennedy-international-airport","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport"},"relegenceId":3473792,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"John F. Kennedy International Airport","slug":"john-f-kennedy-international-airport","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport"},{"name":"San Francisco International Airport","slug":"san-francisco-international-airport","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/san-francisco-international-airport","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/san-francisco-international-airport","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/san-francisco-international-airport"},"relegenceId":3568208,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"San Francisco","slug":"san-francisco","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/san-francisco"},{"name":"Afghan diaspora","slug":"afghan-diaspora","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/afghan-diaspora","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora"},"relegenceId":4232828,"url":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Pleased to announce w/@NydiaVelazquez the release of Hameed Jhalid Darweesh from detention at JFK. pic.twitter.com/AeKDhIPp7k
(((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 28, 2017

Darweesh was released Saturday afternoon. In a press conference afterward, he said hed been held since 6 p.m. Friday in several rooms, and was questioned for many hours.

But despite his ill treatment, Darweesh offered praise for the U.S., calling it the greatest country in the world.

Iraqi interpreter released, excited to be with his family. He still loves America. pic.twitter.com/ZpeQ933d9d

Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) January 28, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Sebastian Murdock","author_url":"https://twitter.com/SebastianMurdoc","cache_age":86400,"description":"Iraqi interpreter released, excited to be with his family. He still loves America. pic.twitter.com/ZpeQ933d9d— Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) January 28, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Sebastian Murdock on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/SebastianMurdoc/status/825402780550623233","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/iraqis-us-interpreter-contractor-first-detained_n_588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,us-news,must-reads,international-news,refugees,new-york,iraq,united-states,iraq-war,muslim-world,us-government,john-f-kennedy-international-airport,san-francisco-international-airport,afghan-diaspora,@genassign,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"theworldpost","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":13},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"588cc5e5e4b0176377948d62","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":981465,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"must reads","slug":"must-reads","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/must-reads","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/must-reads","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/must-reads"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Must Reads","slug":"must-reads","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/must-reads"},{"name":"International News","slug":"international-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/international-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":980522,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"International News","slug":"international-news","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/international-news"},{"name":"Refugees","slug":"refugees","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/refugees","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/refugees","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/refugees"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Migrant And Refugee Crisis","slug":"migrant-crisis","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/migrant-crisis"},{"name":"New York","slug":"new-york","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/new-york","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/new-york","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/new-york"},"relegenceId":3975188,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"New York","slug":"new-york","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/new-york"},{"name":"Iraq","slug":"iraq","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/iraq","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq"},"relegenceId":3971258,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Middle East","slug":"middle-east","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/middle-east"},{"name":"united states","slug":"united-states","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states"},"relegenceId":3804968,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"United States","slug":"united-states","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/united-states"},{"name":"Iraq war","slug":"iraq-war","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/iraq-war","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq-war","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/iraq-war"},"relegenceId":3851645,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"War Wire","slug":"warwire","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/warwire"},{"name":"Muslim world","slug":"muslim-world","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/muslim-world","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/muslim-world","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/muslim-world"},"relegenceId":5419602,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Muslims","slug":"muslims","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/muslims"},{"name":"u.s. government","slug":"us-government","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-government","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-government"},"relegenceId":3534855,"url":"https://action.news/topic/us-government"},{"name":"John F. Kennedy International Airport","slug":"john-f-kennedy-international-airport","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport"},"relegenceId":3473792,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"John F. Kennedy International Airport","slug":"john-f-kennedy-international-airport","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/john-f-kennedy-international-airport"},{"name":"San Francisco International Airport","slug":"san-francisco-international-airport","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/san-francisco-international-airport","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/san-francisco-international-airport","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/san-francisco-international-airport"},"relegenceId":3568208,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"San Francisco","slug":"san-francisco","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/san-francisco"},{"name":"Afghan diaspora","slug":"afghan-diaspora","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/afghan-diaspora","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora"},"relegenceId":4232828,"url":"https://action.news/topic/afghan-diaspora"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Iraqi interpreter released, excited to be with his family. He still loves America. pic.twitter.com/ZpeQ933d9d
Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) January 28, 2017

Alshawi is a refugee who was rejoining his wife and child in America. His wife, who had worked for a U.S. government contractor, came to the U.S. a few years ago, The Washington Post reported .

Alshawi was released Saturday night, after a federal judge halted parts of Trumps executive order.

Mark Doss, an attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project who is representing Darweesh and Alshawi, said he and his team were unable to meet with their clients through the night on Friday.

Weve been at JFK all night and none of us have been able to speak with our clients. As far as we know, they are still detained, and we have been unable to actually meet with them in person, Doss told CNN Saturday before Darweeshs release. To be unlawfully detained here at the airport is really just disgraceful.

Were fighting very hard to make sure theyre not deported to their countries where they can be killed, he added.

Things were also chaotic on the West Coast. An Afghan interpreter was detained at San Francisco International Airport on Friday while his wife and children were allowed through, said Matt Zeller, founder of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit that helps Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters with special immigrant visas resettle safely in the United States.

Protesters gathered around the country on Saturday in support of the detainees.

U.S. veterans of the Iraq War criticized their governments actions on Saturday as well.

The idea that we could be detaining Iraqi interpreters who put their lives on the line to help troops like myself in Iraq is disgraceful, Jon Soltz, a veteran and the chairman of VoteVets, said in a statement. Not only does this not do anything to protect America, but it now sends the message that even if you put your life on the line to help America, if you are Muslim we dont want you here.

The executive order, which Trump signed Friday afternoon , bans Syrian refugee resettlement in the U.S. indefinitely, shuts down the entire refugee program for 120 days, and bars all immigrants and visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country for at least 90 days.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York halted parts of the executive order Saturday after the American Civil Liberties Union, immigrants rights groups and refugee relief organizations filed a lawsuit against Trump and the U.S. government. A federal judge in Virginia and a district judge in Seattle came to similar decisions later that night.

Sign up for the HuffPost Must Reads newsletter. Each Sunday, we will bring you the best original reporting, long form writing and breaking news from The Huffington Post and around the web, plus behind-the-scenes looks at how its all made. Click here to sign up!