Watch CBS News

Immigrant Traveler, Friend Meet At Logan Where Attorneys Wait To Assist

BOSTON (CBS) -- Detained immigrants, family members, friends, a handful of protesters and attorneys gathered at Logan Airport as President Trump's executive order barring citizens of seven different countries entered a second day.

And on Sunday, an emotional hug two friends thought might not have come.

"We didn't expect these things to happen in the United States. We came here with hope of peace and love," Ati Ramani said.

Ramani says she was waiting at the International terminal at Logan for her friend Sona for several hours.

Logan traveler
Friends Sona and Ati (left and center) reunite at Logan Airport Sunday. (WBZ-TV)

"Although she's a green card holder, I was not really sure if I could see her again," Ramani said.

"I was worried for everything and now I'm okay," Sona said.

Both women are Iranian natives now living in Boston.

Ati Ramani is a doctoral student at UMass-Amherst.

Their native country, along with six others that are predominantly Muslim, are part of a travel ban in a new executive order signed by President Trump.

"I really don't have a good feeling right now," Ati said.

Sona went to Iran to visit her family for vacation. She was supposed to return on February 10th. But after the president's ban and as of early Sunday morning, a federal judge's imposed temporary restraining order, she took the opportunity to return to the United States.

Sona says through it all, she held onto her faith.

"I thank God, think about everything and I praise God," Sona said.

In addition, an Iranian woman who lives in Hopkinton waited four hours Sunday for her husband to get through customs at Logan. He traveled back to Boston from Iran for his father's funeral. A volunteer immigration attorney said detaining someone for that long after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order is questionable.

"Clearly, these practices are unconstitutional, they're unjust. They go against what America stands for," Emily Amara Gordon said.

Attorney Howard Silverman has been at the airport helping families at the airport since 7 a.m.

"I've been doing this for 32 years. I've never seen anything like this. I think it's dangerous. I think it sets a dangerous precedent," Silverman told WBZ.

"I believe everything will be all right. People really support us here and I really appreciate them," Ramani said.

Ati's positivity is reassured by protesters, showing solidarity for all immigrants entering the U.S. from Boston.

"My father came over to get away from persecution in Nazi Germany. So it's very important to us to feel that this country is still welcoming," David Hoffer said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.