Trump ban creates chaos for travelers in, out of the country

MPR News reporter Marianne Combs discussed the local impact of President Donald Trump's executive actions around immigration with John Keller, the executive director of the Immigrant Law Project. Keller shared what advice he is giving to people in the wake of these executive actions, and which parts of those actions are vulnerable to court challenges.

To hear the full discussion use the audio player above, or read the Associated Press story below for more information.

From Dubai to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump's order barring travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. has thrown the lives of thousands into limbo.

Some legal U.S. residents and visitors from the affected nations are wondering whether it is safe to leave this country to do business or visit family; they fear they won't be allowed back in. Others who were outside the United States when the order was issued last week are struggling to find a way in.

Meanwhile, attorneys and federal judges worked to clear a path for some of those who were turned away. One was Sahar Algonaimi, a Syrian-born schoolteacher from Saudi Arabia, who arrived at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Saturday on her way to Indiana to care for her elderly, cancer-stricken mother.

Although she had a visa and had visited the U.S. numerous times before, the 58-year-old woman was put on a plane back to Saudi Arabia after authorities persuaded her to give up her visa. An hour after she left, a judge blocked Trump's order, an act her family's attorney said would have allowed her to stay.

"Now, unless we can get the government to give her humanitarian parole, she will have to apply for a new visa," Kalman Resnick said Monday. "This is just one of many stories from the weekend at O'Hare and all around the country."

In Dubai, Nazanin Zinouri of South Carolina said she was barred from boarding a flight home over the weekend after traveling to Iran to visit her mother and other family members.

A legal resident of the U.S. since 2010, she has earned master's and doctorate degrees in this country and works for a technology company. She fears she will lose her job, home, car and pet if she can't return soon. "What's going to happen to my dog? My dog is sick. Is anyone going to adopt him?" she asked. "Am I going to lose my job forever?"

On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said green-card holders, or legal permanent U.S. residents, will be allowed to re-enter the country unless there is information indicating the person is a serious threat. The order is aimed at preventing would-be terrorists from slipping into the country.

Trump on Monday denied his order was to blame for chaos at the nation's airports over the weekend, instead pointing to computer glitches and protesters. He took to Twitter to argue that swift action on immigrants was important, saying there are a "lot of bad 'dudes' out there."

In New York, Somali-born freelance journalist Ismail Einashe, who holds British citizenship, is debating whether it is safe to leave the U.S. to take care of business in London.

He said British officials gave assurances that returning won't be a problem for someone like him who holds a British passport and a 10-year multiple-entry visa. But he's not sure he believes them.

"Clearly there's a lot of confusion here in the U.S.," he said. "I'm afraid if I leave the city, I may not be able to enter the country again. I think I have good reason not to feel confident."

Einashe, 31, arrived in New York earlier this month on a fellowship and is taking part in a graduate seminar at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University.