The Nigerian Lawyers Association and the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians, two influential Nigerian community associations in the U.S, will on Saturday hold two information sessions on the U.S. travel ban.
The information session would be held via teleconference for Nigerians.
Mr Olayinka Dansalami, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on Friday.
According to him, the sessions are meant to address increasing concerns by Nigerians about the travel ban.
Dansalami said the Nigerian groups had earlier in the week organised the teleconferences to defuse the fears and concerns of Nigerians.
This, he said followed reports that few of them had fallen victim of the travel ban, which had led to extreme vetting at the airports.
“The Nigerian Lawyers Association and the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians will hold the second information session on U.S. Travel Ban.
“To those who participated at the first informational sessions, we want you to know that we have addressed the distractions that occurred during those sessions.
“Call in to listen to the experts and know your rights in the face of Trump’s executive orders. We will allay and put to rest all your fears.
“Attorneys will discuss concerns about the Executive Orders, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Dreamers) and the rights of undocumented and documented immigrants.
“Please disseminate wide and far; share with your groups, members of your church, mosque and organizsation,’’ he said.
The Nigerian community leader advised all Nigerians at the home country or in the U.S. who or whose relatives have questions to take advantage of the information sessions.
The two information sessions tagged;“Know your rights and don’t be afraid about the Executive Orders’’ would hold on Saturday at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Nigerian time on Saturday), and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (11 p.m. on Saturday to 12:30 a.m on Sunday, Nigerian time).
The contact numbers to participate in the teleconferences are: Call in number: 646 558 6338 with PIN: 273 0024# and Text number: 917 549 9860.
NAN reports that the travel order, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 25 to temporarily restrict travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Libya, which was blocked by the Federal Courts.
The travel order is, however, being expanded and the revised order is expected to be rolled out next week.
The move has raised many questions and sparked protests around the country and other countries around the world regarding travelers who were previously approved to come to the United States but later detained at airports.
Dansalami expressed concerns that the ban had also affected travelers from other countries, including Africans, with visitors, students and Green Card holders being aggressively vetted at airports.
This had led to Immigration Officers pursuing aggressive enforcement and arrests across the country.
Mr Francis James, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the organisation, has also advised Nigerian travelers to do everything possible to be abreast of the order to avoid falling victim at airports.
“Please call in to this important information session to learn your rights on how your travelling relatives and friends can ensure they are not unlawfully denied entry into the United States.
“Since time is of the essence, please start sharing with all your contacts and channels aggressively. Your effort may save you or someone from serious legal issues,” James appealed. (NAN)
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