Filipino human rights advocacy groups are demanding that an activist from the Philippines detained at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday be allowed to enter the United States.
Jerome Aladdin Succor Aba was on his way to Washington, D.C., when he was stopped by customs agents during a layover in San Francisco. He was traveling to the U.S. to speak on humans rights issues in the Philippines, according to multiple people who were working with Aba on his visit.
Representatives from several Filipino human rights organizations gathered at the airport Wednesday to demand that Aba be able to see an attorney.
Terry Valen of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns said Aba has approval to come to the U.S. and his denial of entry is a "political blocking."
"He’s here to talk about the human rights crisis and the impact military aid from the U.S is having on the people in the Philippines," Valen said.