Khizr Khan forced to cancel Toronto trip after being told his travel privileges are being 'reviewed'

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory

Khizr Khan forced to cancel Toronto trip after being told his travel privileges are being ‘reviewed’

BRAD REED
06 MAR 2017 AT 13:51 ET

Khizr Khan, the Muslim American Gold Star father who famously railed against President Donald Trump at last years Democratic National Convention, has cancelled a planned speech he was scheduled to give in Toronto after being informed that the U.S. government is reviewing his travel privileges.

Rosa Hwang, a senior producer at CTV National News, [link:

Link to tweet

] that Khan received word that his privileges were under review on Sunday evening.

This turn of events is not just concerning to me, but to all my fellow Americans who cherish our freedom to travel abroad, said Khan, whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun S.M. Khan, died in Iraq in 2004. I have not been given any reason as to why.

Ramsay Talks, the organization that was due to host Khans speech, confirmed that the talk had been cancelled and that tickets would be refunded.

Link to tweet

RamsayTalks
26 minutes ago

KHIZR KHAN EVENT CANCELLATION

Late Sunday evening Khizr Khan, an American citizen for over 30 years, was notified that his travel privileges are being reviewed. As a consequence, Mr. Khan will not be traveling to Toronto on March 7th to speak about tolerance, understanding, unity and the rule of law. Very regretfully, Ramsay Talks must cancel its luncheon with Mr. Khan. Guests will be given full refunds.

Mr. Khan offered his sincere apologies to all those who made plans to attend on March 7th. He said: "This turn of events is not just of deep concern to me but to all my fellow Americans who cherish our freedom to travel abroad. I have not been given any reason as to why. I am grateful for your support and look forward to visiting Toronto in the near future.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/khizr-khan-forced-to-cancel-toronto-trip-after-being-told-his-travel-privileges-are-being-reviewed/

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Absolutely unconscionable.

The man is an American citizen and a Gold Star father.

[OKNancy]

3. outrage

if true

[jberryhill]

4. "after being informed"

After being informed by whom and of what?

If someone is being placed on a no-fly list, it's not as if they are informed of that fact.

Likewise, if a passport is revoked, it's not as if there is some sort of "courtesy call" made to the passport holder.

Specifically who contacted him to inform him of what?

Do any reporters actually write news copy any more? Who told him what is pretty much basic to this story, but the information is completely absent.

[question everything]

14. some more info

The New York Daily News said a State Department official said there was no US State Department procedure for reviewing “travel privileges” and that anyone with a valid US passport can enter and leave the US.

Rather, the official said that it was up to other countries, such as Canada, to admit US citizens or not. The Canadian Foreign Ministry has yet to comment.

When The Independent connected Mr Khan by email, he replied: “Thank you. I have no comments.” Mr Ramsay also failed to respond to inquiries.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/khizr-khan-talk-toronto-cancelled-travel-restriction-a7615171.html

[Warpy]

5. Trump's vendettas against anyone who ever crossed him are legendary

and now he'll use whatever part of the government he can bully into doing it for him.

This is disgusting beyond belief. It's going to get worse, too.

[jberryhill]

19. What "part of the government" is involved here?

[Warpy]

25. In Khan's case, ICE

and he will use whatever he can for as long as he can.

[jberryhill]

26. What has ICE done?

This is the first mention of an US government agency having any connection to Mr. Khan's claim.

What is the source of your information that Mr. Khan was notified by ICE that they are "reviewing" his "travel privileges"?

Specifically, how does ICE prevent a US citizen from entering Canada?

[Warpy]

27. They have threatened to prevent his coming back

and you know it.

Goodbye.

[jberryhill]

30. A US citizen cannot be prevented from coming back

Mr. Khan is an immigration attorney and he knows that very well. Unless they want to end up cutting him a fat check after he sues.

So, let me see if I understand what you believe - on NO information whatsoever:

You believe that ICE sends letters to US citizens informing them that their "travel privileges are under review" and says that if they leave the country, they won't be allowed back in?

And the point of that would be what?

Even if it were legally possible to prevent a US citizen from entering the US, why would they warn people in advance not to leave?

Wouldn't it make a lot more sense, in the scheme of things the way you think they work, to NOT tell them and then to lock them up when they try to return?

There are simply no facts supporting the claim that the US government has anything to do with whatever Mr. Khan's issue might be, and Mr. Khan is not talking about it.

[OKNancy]

6. Khan is an immigration lawyer... something doesn't seem right

CTV asked for Khan to comment and he told them no comment.
Something doesn't seem right.

Link to tweet

--------------------

Even some reliable Democratic/liberal people on twitter are seriously questioning this.
No major news site reporting this either.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. I didn't see anything at the Charlottesville Daily Progress or the Cavalier Daily. NT

[MBS]

7. This is WRONG.

[DorothyG]

8. How do we get travel 'privileges'?

Are they enumerated somewhere? Is there a test to qualify? Are there licensing fees? Where do we apply?

[kskiska]

10. The ACLU will be all over this.

Mr. Khan has friends in high places.

[jmowreader]

11. Khizr Khan doesn't have "travel privileges"

He has the RIGHT to travel.

The RIGHT.

We are inching very close to French Revolution territory.

[uppityperson]

12. Weird. Snopes doesn't give any more info, nor does any other story I can find.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. WUSA, DC channel 9, could not verify this either.

They have a fact-checking segment on the 11:00 o'clock news.

[question everything]

13. This is outrageous. Needs to be widely publicized. (nt)

[jberryhill]

18. Okay, specifically what needs to be publicized?

For example, who is it that is preventing Mr. Khan from traveling to Canada?

Nobody in the US "checks you out of the country" if you walk into Canada. And if you are on the "no fly" list, nobody sends you a letter telling you.

Mr. Khan has not provided sufficient information to even figure out what the "this" is.

[question everything]

21. You are right. After reading the other comments here I went to search

and found and posted this one - 14, above

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1722149

[jberryhill]

22. "Question everything" is a valuable principle

Unfortunately, there are many, unlike yourself, who "question everything" except their own assumptions.

From other information, this appears to have been a paid event, and hence Mr. Khan's "travel privileges" may have more to do with whether he can earn money while visiting Canada.

[shireen]

16. something's not right ...

As a citizen, Khan is free to travel. This is not a travel privilege, it's a travel right. Let's not jump to conclusions just yet ... wait till we get more information.

[Sunlei]

17. Ramsay Talks is probably a business? looks like part of them are a business & Canada won't let usa

travelers 'work' in Canada. unless you get the permits.

https://www.ramsaytalks.com/

https://www.ramsayinc.com/

[jberryhill]

20. "tickets will be refunded"

So, yes, this was a paying event, apparently, and no, you can't just go to Canada for a paid gig without a permit from Canada to do so.

[Sunlei]

24. maybe he didn't have a work permit,those take weeks to get. The DOTcom business should have known

Or maybe he didn't want to speak there after checking them out.

[COLGATE4]

29. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! nt

[Denzil_DC]

28. The only Google results I can find for "travel privileges"

are either about Khan's case or commercial airline loyalty programs etc.

There's something off about the terminology, whatever the truth behind this matter might be.