Protests ignite after U.S. customs detains Palestinian men at SFO

Customs and Border Protection detained two Palestinian men, Eid Hthaleen and Ouda Alhadlin, at San Francisco International Airport after revoking their visas without cause. The men had arrived from Jordan to participate in an interfaith speaking tour organized by a local Jewish congregation. Their detention sparked immediate protests, with around 100 people gathering at the airport to demand their release. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood described the situation as an act of censorship and discrimination, especially given the men’s humanitarian mission. The congregation aimed to raise funds for children's programming in the West Bank through their event.

Mahmood reported that the men have previously visited the U. S. and testified before Congress. The Bay Area branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations organized additional demonstrations to support the men. Community members expressed concerns about the men's conditions in federal custody.