Overview

• The two men arrived Wednesday with valid B-1/B-2 visas to speak at interfaith events hosted by Kehilla Community Synagogue and Bay Area Methodist churches.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection revoked their visas without explanation and has held them at the airport since 1 p.m., notifying sponsors of a planned deportation flight.
• Both activists come from a Bedouin village in the West Bank—one is an artist and photographer and the other a teacher—and neither has ties to political organizations.
• One of the men previously testified before Congress on humanitarian issues, drawing criticism from Supervisor Bilal Mahmood over restrictions on free speech and peaceful exchange.
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations organized Thursday’s demonstration to press for their immediate release and to urge federal agencies to stop targeting Palestinian travelers.