Posted 01/30/17, 5:19 PM

DALLAS (AM News Net)  –  Hundreds of protesters rallied Sunday and Monday at D/FW Airport to protest a new executive order signed by President Trump on Friday. The order temporarily restricts immigration of citizens and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days.

The order created controversy across the country, sparking protests in major airports. In Dallas, nine travelers were detained, prompting demonstrators to rally at Terminal D until they were released. Of the nine people detained in Dallas, there was one from Iraq, five from Iran, two from Syria, and one from Sudan.

"Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program," President Trump said in his executive order. 

President Trump explains that the restrictions are a necessary security measure to protect the United States.

"Deteriorating conditions in certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increase the likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States," he said.

Opponents of the order say the bans on immigration are discriminatory, and a federal judge has temporarily halted deportations of individuals from those countries.

Proponents of the ban cite Act 212(b) section F of the United States immigration law to explain that the order is legal.

"Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants [sic], or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. Whenever the Attorney General finds that a commercial airline has failed to comply with regulations of the Attorney General relating to requirements of airlines for the detection of fraudulent documents used by passengers traveling to the United States (including the training of personnel in such detection), the Attorney General may suspend the entry of some or all aliens transported to the United States by such airline."

Whether legal or not, the situation at D/FW  prompted a statement from officials.

"In an effort to address the nation's concerns regarding border security, the most recent rollout of the executive order regarding illegal immigration has caused deep alarm for many whose families are affected by the visa/refugee process," Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price said in a tweet. "I stand with those who desire to see that our nation can protect the safety of its citizens while remaining as a refuge for those who are persecuted by and seeking a better life through legal immigration."

All nine detainees in Dallas have been released. The nine were part of the 109 total travelers detained across the country.

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