No Malaysians detained in US travel ban

PETALING JAYA: No Malaysian has been detained under US President Donald Trump's sweeping travel ban, the Foreign Ministry confirmed today.
The Ministry said in a statement that previous reports in local and foreign media that Malaysian citizens may have been detained at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York (JFK) are untrue.
"Contrary to the articles in local media, the Ministry has confirmed with our Consulate General in New York that no Malaysian was detained at JFK," the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that Malaysia is not affected by the travel ban and citizens with valid travel documents visas will be allowed into the US.
The statement was referring to reports that 71 travelers from 20 countries, including from Malaysia, have been detained at JFK following Trump's executive order to ban travel from seven majority Muslim countries.
It originated from a press release posted by activist group No Ban JFK/ No Ban USA, comprised of lawyers, volunteers, and activists, who are stationed outside JFK to assist those detained under the ban.
The group, however, did not give a detailed breakdown or nationalities of those detained.
Trump signed an executive order banning travel from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia on Jan 27 for 90 days while suspending all refugee admissions for 120 days.
Travelers from those countries have been arrested upon arrival, including those who have had their visas approved prior to the order and permanent residents of the US.