ACLU Of PA Is Working To Reunite Local Families And Taking Steps To Defend Refugees
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The impact of President Donald Trump's executive order is still rippling throughout the country.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania spent the weekend helping those detained at Philadelphia International Airport.
Five people from banned countries were detained at the airport. They've since been released.
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ACLU of Pennsylvania lawyer Molly Tack Hooper says now they're focused on those who never gained entry.
"We know of three families who got to Philadelphia and got sent back quickly."
She says there could be others, but the families had no access to interpreters and paid for their return.
"We heard reports that people didn't have access to food and water for long stretches of time, and we heard reports of people getting sick for having to travel for dozens of days."
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Tack-Hooper says they are negotiating their return with several government agencies.
"We do anticipate more litigation, but we always try to avoid it."
There's already a GoFundMe Page for the Assali family, a Christian family from Syria who was denied entry at Philadelphia International Airport despite approved visas and forced to pay for a return ticket to Qatar.
Tack-Hooper says it's unclear at this point when the families will be able to return.