President Donald Trump’s latest executive order is not sitting well with some Central Florida residents, so much so that they’re taking to the streets and speaking out. 

  • Question of constitutionality of order
  • Possibility of more lawsuits
  • Demings said she wants to find answers for Central Floridians

On Sunday about 300 people met with U.S. Representative Val Demings at the Muslim Academy of Greater Orlando for a Q and A regarding the new order and its implications. Among those present to meet with Demings was Shahzad Ahmed, an immigration attorney who has been practicing law for the past 17 years.

Ahmed pointed out that though the verbiage of the president's executive order did not specify Islam or Muslims, it does name seven countries that are Muslim-majority countries, making the order unconstitutional.

"A lot of aspects of this order are not constitutional," said Ahmed. "They do violate the equal protection clause because they tend to single out certain groups and treat them differently than other groups."

Ahmed currently has a lawsuit pending, representing an Iranian whose visa is being held up. He expects to be filing more lawsuits in the face of the current situation.

Representative Demings later thanked everyone who attended the town hall-style meeting via Twitter, calling the president's executive order a part of "Trump's extreme agenda."

 



Earlier in the day, more than 500 protesters made their feelings on Trump's order known at Orlando International Airport. Strangers hugged each other as they held banners that read “No ban, no wall,” all to show solidarity.

One of the protesters, Enas Gebaly, who is from Egypt, believes Trump’s actions are an attack against a nation built on immigrants.

“Why does he need to ban Muslims? Why?" asked Gebaly, who now calls America "home." "If he wants to stop terrorism he must teach people love ... If we’re together, this will be America safe, not hate.”

In the hours following the protest, three people of Muslim descent who were being held at the Orlando International Airport in relation to President Trump's executive order were released.