With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Iranian Man Barred From Entry Under Trump's Order Lands Back At LAX
Vayeghan and his brother embrace at LAX. (Photo by Julia Wick/LAist)
()
On Thursday afternoon, Ali Vayeghan landed back at Los Angeles International Airport after being refused entry and deported under President Trump's immigration ban—Vayeghan is the first traveler to reenter the U.S. after being turned away under the ban.
The 52-year-old Iranian man had arrived in Los Angeles from Tehran just after 7 p.m. on Friday. His gathered family, including his brother, Hossein Vayghan (who spells his last name differently than Ali's), and his niece, Marjan Vayghan, waited at the airport until 3 a.m. that night. Vayeghan was held overnight before being refused entry and put on a plane to Dubai, United Arab Emirates at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, according to the L.A. Times.
Lawyers from the ACLU worked through the weekend to try and help Vayeghan. They were able to obtain the necessary paperwork to secure his release on Saturday, but it arrived about 45 minutes too late, according to the L.A. Times. Next, Vayeghan waited in an airport in Dubai (he was being deported back to Iran via Dubai) while attorneys rushed to get an order from a judge demanding his return to the U.S. Again, the lawyers succeeded, and again relief came slightly too late. U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee granted the ACLU's request on Sunday afternoon, issuing a temporary restraining order requiring Vayeghan be returned to the U.S. However, by the time the ruling came through, Vayeghan was already on a plane from Dubai to Iran.
Gee's ruling "is one of the most aggressive actions a federal judge has taken against the executive order," according to the New York Times.
Support for LAist comes from
"This was a case for one person, but people across the country suffered similar treatment," Peter Bibring, a lawyer representing Vayeghan for the ACLU of Southern California, told the New York Times. “It demonstrates that the valid visa holders who were removed this weekend should be returned."
Vayeghan landed at LAX just after 12:45 p.m. on Thursday. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Vayeghan family, the ACLU, and other nonprofit lawyers waited to greet him after holding a press conference at the airport. The ACLU is live streaming Vayeghan's return here.
()
Ali Vayeghan (left) with niece Marjan Vayghan (middle) and Mayor Eric Garcetti (right). (Photo by Julia Wick)
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist