Two Palestinian men, detained at San Francisco International Airport upon arrival for an interfaith humanitarian mission, are facing deportation despite holding valid visas. Their planned visits to local synagogues and churches aimed to share experiences from the West Bank and express gratitude for community support. Protestors gathered in solidarity, insisting that the detention highlights concerns around First Amendment rights. Local leaders condemned the incident, suggesting the decision was influenced by the men's Palestinian identities, pointing to broader issues of discrimination and freedom of speech in the context of humanitarian outreach.
"It's extremely abnormal, just outrageous. I really, really don't know why other than, sadly, because of their Palestinian background."
"This is a fundamental violation of the First Amendment. It was with clear intention that they were trying to stop them from communicating their truth and preach peace."
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