Protests against Muslim ban hit major US airports

Protests broke out at a number of US airports including New York’s John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport on Saturday after travellers from several Muslim-majority nations were detained on the back of President Donald Trump's Muslim ban. 

Hundreds of demonstrators outside New York City’s JFK chanted “Let them in”, "No ban, no wall, sanctuary for all!" and "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!" in support of detained travellers.

Similar protests were held at LAX in Los Angeles, SFO in San Francisco and Washington's Dulles Airport, with demonstrators holding signs welcoming refugees and immigrants.

The protests came in response to passport holders from Arab countries being blocked on Saturday from passing through customs at US airports, while others were prevented from boarding US-bound planes.

On Friday, Trump signed an executive order to curb immigration and the entry of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The executive order also temporarily halts all refugees from being resettled in the United States.

"We want to ensure that we are not letting into our country the very threats that our soldiers are fighting overseas,” Trump said at the Pentagon before signing the order.

In separate remarks, Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network that Syrian Christians would be given priority when it comes to applying for refugee status.

The New York Times reported that two Iraqi refugees with valid visas were detained late Friday at JFK airport just hours after Trump signed the order.

On Saturday, the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups filed a legal challenge to Trump's order, and asked for their suit to be considered a class action.

One of those held, Hameed Khalid Darweesh who has worked for the US government in Iraq for 10 years, was later released.

But 11 others remain detained at JFK, according to Democratic congressman Jerrold Nadler, who went there to press for the release of the first two.