Refugee family at LAX awaits arrival of cancer-stricken mother

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo

Monday, January 30, 2017

Tearful reunion for refugee family at LAX

It was a tearful reunion for one father and his children Sunday night after being detained at Los Angeles International Airport due to President Donald Trump's immigration actions.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A refugee family detained at Los Angeles International Airport after President Donald Trump's immigration actions was anxiously waiting for their wife and mother.

Refugees from Turkey, Isam Zabiba said his wife, Mayasah, is battling stage 4 breast cancer and was the last to join her family, but they had no idea when or if she will be released.

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"We are coming here to run away from terrorists in our country. We are residents here and she has all legal documents to stay here in the United States," Zabiba said.

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There was no word on Monday whether Mayasah was released.

A Department of Homeland Security official told ABC News Monday morning there are no more travelers detained at U.S. airports.