A UNIVERSITY of Glasgow vet was blocked from coming back to Scotland after being caught up in President Donald Trump's ban on imigrants and refugees from several Muslim countries.
Hamaseh Tayari, who majors at veterinary anaesthesia the university, was due to fly back to Glasgow on Saturday but was denied entry onto a flight because it went via New York and she would need a transit visa, which was revoked.
It comes as Donald Trump’s executive order to close America’s borders to refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries has been swiftly enforced.
The order blocks citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya for 90 days as well as indefinitely suspending admission of Syrian refugees.
There has been criticism from all quarters including Madeline Albright, the former US secretary of state, Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani campaigner for girls’ education and Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg.
Tayari, who grew up in Italy, is a UK resident, and holds an Iranian passport had been on holiday in Costa Rica with her boyfriend last week, but both remain at San Jose airport in Costa Rica after she was told she could not take the plane to New York.
"The people at the check-in told me that I was not allowed to take the plane because of the new rules," she said.
“This has really shocked me. We just discovered [what Trump did] at the airport when we went to check in. I want people to know that this is not just happening to refugees.
“I am destroyed. I did not know that I could cry for so long. It feels like the beginning of the end. How this is possible? I am really afraid about what is going on."
San Jose Airport check-in
She described an appeal to raise money for her to get back to Glasgow which reached its goal in 35 minutes as "amazing".
They had both been due to get a connecting flight from New York to Glasgow, but are now trying to find an alternative route back.
On Sunday morning, the University of Glasgow said that they had made arrangements to get her back to the city.
We've spoken with Hamaseh Tayari who has made arrangements to get back to Glasgow, not via the USA. Amazing support from all, thank you !
— Uni of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) January 29, 2017
Earlier Ms Tayari said: "The company [United Airlines] was really helpful. I'm still in their offices trying to find new flights.
"They've given us food and coffee, and they're really supporting us. It's not their fault, but it's a crazy thing that I really didn't expect to happen to me," said Ms Tayari,who grew up and studied in Italy, qualifying as a vet in 2012.
“We had been saving for months for this holiday and it will cost me a month’s salary just to get home,” said Ms Tayari, who has been studying towards her European Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at the University of Glasgow's Small Animal Hospital.
She added: "I still have Iranian nationality, because I've never thought about changing it.
"I've never had any problems until now, maybe I've had to wait a bit longer for visas, but nothing like this has happened to me.
"In my passport I have a regular transit visa for the USA, but they told me the visa is not any more valid."
Booking a flight to Madrid and then on to London and Glasgow has cost her and her boyfriend almost £2,600 which she described as "all our money for the next few months".
She said: "I don't know how we'll afford to pay the rent, the bills, and the food," adding that the situation had left her "completely shocked".
"I thought maybe I didn't understand what's going on. I tried to ask again, if I understood properly.
"Afterwards, I was really upset. I'm still upset. I'm more than angry. I'm really upset. And, I'm a little bit afraid."
Women for Independence put together an appeal raise money to help the couple get back to Scotland - which reached its target in 35 minutes.
Thank you everyone. Hamaseh Tayari is a victim of Trump's bigotry, but you have helped to reduce his impact. #Resist #Solidarity
— WomenForIndependence (@WomenForIndy) January 28, 2017
Do any of our followers know Glasgow vet Hamaseh Tayari? If so, can they DM us please. We want to help her get home.
— WomenForIndependence (@WomenForIndy) January 28, 2017
She has a PhD and just wants to go back to Glasgow. She doesn't want to stay in the United States. Bring Hamaseh Tayari home. #MuslimBan
— Abby Ramos (@abbyyramos) January 28, 2017
How can you deny a New York transit visa Hamaseh Tayari, a UK resident who holds an Iranian passport, has been on holiday in Costa Ricaa,
— SustainLED (@SustainLED) January 28, 2017
A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said: "We were extremely concerned at the difficulties which one of our postgraduate students encountered on trying to return to the UK via the United States after holidaying in Costa Rica.
"We have been in touch with Hamaseh who has made arrangements to get back to Glasgow via an alternative route. The university will do all that we can to support her."
Politicians including Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald, who said he was "horrified", had been making moves to try and assist Ms Tayari.
Trump's executive order also means there is a suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Programme for 120 days and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.
The president has said the halt on the refugee programme was needed to give government agencies time to develop a stricter vetting system and ensure that visas were not issued to individuals posing a national security threat.
Protesters have gathered at New York's John F Kennedy airport to demand the release of 11 refugees who are being detained there.
Trump is facing a legal challenge from several rights groups.
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