Pennsylvania Daybook

Family's Syrian relatives denied entry expected in New York

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Attorneys for a Pennsylvania family whose six Syrian relatives were denied entry to the United States at Philadelphia International Airport more than a week ago says the relatives are expected to arrive Monday in New York. Immigration attorney Jonathan Grode said Sunday evening that the two Syrian families have already been admitted to the country at a Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance center in Abu Dhabi. He said their Allentown relatives, Dr. Ghassan Assali and his wife, Sarmad, plan to be on hand to meet them when they arrive Monday morning at John F. Kennedy airport. Attorneys said Dr. Assali's brothers, their wives, and their two teenage children were denied entrance Jan. 28 although they had visas in hand after a 13-year effort. Grode said his clients are now "ecstatic."