Iranian Stony Brook PHD student is pulled off a deportation flight from JFK at the last minute by lawyers fighting against Trump's Muslim travel ban
- Student Vahideh Rasekhi was stopped from entering the US at JFK on Saturday
- The PHD linguistics student had been visiting family in Iran when she returned
- She began traveling on Friday before President Trump signed executive order
- Officials placed her on a flight to Kiev, Ukraine, which she had flown through
- Lawyers hauled her off at the last minute after a judge granted a temporary emergency stay blocking deportations in New York
- Vahideh was eventually released from the airport on Sunday shortly before 3pm
Iranian-born Vahideh Rasekhi was put on a deportation flight after arriving in the US on Saturday once President Trump's ban was in place
A Stony Brook PHD student of Iranian descent was pulled off a deportation flight from JFK at the last minute on Saturday night by lawyers fighting Trump's Muslim travel ban.
Vahideh Rasekhi has lived in the US for ten years and works and studies in the linguistics department of the New York university.
She had already left Tehran, Iran, after visiting family on Friday when Trump signed an executive order banning its citizens from entering the US.
After connecting to another flight in Kiev, Ukraine, she arrived at JFK Airport on Saturday but was told she wouldn't be allowed back in to the country.
Officials placed her on an 11.40pm flight bound for Kiev via Istanbul and it was about to take off when lawyers acting on her behalf were able to halt it because of a temporary stay order issued by a federal judge blocking deportations in New York.
Vahideh was taken off the plane but still faced hours more questioning in the airport. She was eventually allowed to leave shortly before 3pm on Sunday and told gathered press waiting for her how she was 'so scared' would be sent back.
'I am so tired, I haven't slept for more than 48 hours. I was scared. I was so scared I was going back,' she said.
Unaware of the weekend's news, Vahideh said she had 'no idea' how her case had come to light.
'I don't know what's happening, I honestly have no idea how the word got out, I don't know who you are but I'm happy.
After being hauled off the deportation flight, she was detained for a further 14 hours before being freed (above) at JFK
Vahideh has been in the US for 10 years studying and working. She was only allowed one phone call after being initially detained, said friends
'It was just in the office. They asked me regular, simple visa questions. Your name, your school, where have you traveled etc.
'They gave us food, anytime someone wanted water they gave us that.'
Friends earlier told how she was only given one phone call after landing in JFK and had limited access to lawyers.
The university urged other students from the affected countries not to travel in case they were blocked from re-entering.
'Stony Brook University is experiencing the full effect of this order firsthand, as the President of our Graduate Student Organization, Vahideh Rasekhi, pursuing a PhD in Linguistics, was detained at JFK Airport after arriving from a layover flight in Ukraine enroute from visiting her family in Iran
Protesters descended on the New York airport on Saturday as scores of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries were detained
'The order apparently went into effect after her travels began. Fortunately, Vahideh was not forced to leave and she has been released,' Stony Brook University president Samuel L. Stanley.
'Even after the 90-day period is complete, we are not sure how the visa or port of entry requirements may change and we are urging caution.'
New York Senator Charles Schumer said there were six people still being held at JFK on Sunday morning.
Dozens more across the country are still being detained.
President Trump is standing by signing an executive order which temporarily bans citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US
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