Overview

• Two cousins from Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, Eid and Awdah Hathaleen, traveled on valid visas to participate in interfaith events and fundraise for a village summer camp.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers revoked their visas upon landing at SFO on Wednesday and held them in detention without providing a reason.
• Dozens of supporters from Kehilla Community Synagogue, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Arab Resource & Organizing Center protested for hours demanding the activists’ release.
• Despite demonstrations and public pressure from Supervisor Bilal Mahmood and members of Congress, the pair were flown back to Qatar on a flight around 4 p.m. on Friday.
• Advocates warn the abrupt expulsions reflect a broader pattern of targeting pro-Palestinian voices and pose risks to free speech and humanitarian exchange.