People Denied Entry Into U.S. After Trump's First Travel Ban Attempt Can Apply for New Visas

President Trump’s attempt to prevent people from six majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. has incurred yet another legal loss. The government has settled a class action lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who were denied entry at airports across the country, despite possessing valid visas, when Trump’s ban was implemented in January — meaning people who were denied entry and forcibly sent home can reapply for visas.

The settlement in the case, Darweesh vs. Trump, requires that the government inform people who have not returned to the U.S after being denied entry of their right to reapply for visas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union:

The settlement ensures that all travelers who were barred from the country on the basis of the ban and have not since returned to the United States are informed of their right to reapply for a visa and provided with a list of free legal services organizations that can help them do so.

Letters will be mailed to those travelers in English, Arabic, and Farsi. The ACLU’s Freedom of Information Act Request revealed that roughly 140 people were detained and sent back to their country of origin, it’s unclear how many of those people weren’t allowed to reenter after the Supreme Court’s ruling instituted a modified version of Trump’s ban.

Hammed Darweesh, who was represented by the ACLU, was one of the plaintiffs that filed a lawsuit in January when he was denied entry even though he had a valid visa. Darweesh worked as translator in the U.S military, when he arrived at New York’s JFK airport hours after the ban was implemented he was detained.

Darweesh’s response to the lawsuit’s conclusion is a stunning reminder of humanity and why immigrants strengthen American society. “It means a lot to me to be in America. The United States is a great country because of its people. I’m glad that the lawsuit is over,” he said. “Me and my family are safe; my kids go to school; we can now live a normal life. I suffered back home, but I have my rights now. I’m a human.”