Libyaborn Australian MP denied entry to US

MELBOURNE: A Victorian Labor politician has been banned from boarding a flight into the United States without explanation, despite being part of an official study tour with other MPs.

Libyaborn Khalil Eideh is stuck in Vancouver after a United Airlines staffer told him he was not allowed to board a flight to Denver with the rest of the group.

‘‘The United Airlines staff knew he had been denied entry to the US before any of us,’’ Sex Party MP Fiona Patten told AAP from Denver yesterday.

‘‘He was incredibly upset

[he was] disbelieving.’’

Labor MP Natalie Suleyman said Mr Eideh was originally told he was not booked on the flight before the checkin staff broke the bad news.

‘‘They said ‘you’ve been denied entry to the States’.’’

He was not given an explanation for the rejection.

Libya is one of the countries on US President Donald Trump’s

. . . controversial visa ban list.

‘‘We’re travelling MPs on an official visit. We all went through an extensive process to secure a visa for the US,’’ Ms Suleyman said.

Liberal MP Martin Dixon, Labor MP Geoff Howard and Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent are also on the study trip.

The group had been in Europe and Canada studying drug laws and were due to fly to Denver for the final leg when Mr Eideh was blocked at the airport.

Every MP on the trip had been issued with official passports and visas weeks before the trip.

It is understood a Victorian government trade official is with Mr Eideh in Vancouver.

He was to fly back to Australia overnight.

The US Embassy would not comment on the reasons behind the decision,, but Mr Eideh signed a letter in 2002 professing loyalty to Syrian dictator Bashar AlAssad.—