Muslim TV personality Yassmin Abdel-Magied deported from US

The Australian had been due to speak at a festival about being a young Muslim

JD75C2 Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland. 18th June, 2017. Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Muslim Sudanese-Australian engineer, author, television and radio presenter and activist, discussing ?Free Speech and Cultural Appropriation' at the Dalkey Book Festival, Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, Sunday 18th June 2017. Photo Credit: Doreen Kennedy/Alamy Live News
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Australian TV personality and Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied was refused entry to the US and deported, after American authorities claimed she did not have the right visa.

Ms Abdel-Magied had been due to speak at a festival panel in New York titled “The M Word: No country for young Muslim Women.”

However, when the author arrived at Minneapolis airport she was turned away by border officials, recounting the experience on Twitter.

"Roughly three hours since touch down in Minneapolis, I'm on a plane back," she tweeted.

"Well, guess that tightening of immigration laws business is working, despite my Australian passport. We're taking off now."

Ms Abdel-Magied said that during the ordeal she had her phone and her passport taken from her by US authorities.

A spokesperson from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) confirmed Ms Abdel-Magied had been refused entry to the US but said she was eligible to reapply for another visa.

“During the inspection, CBP officers determined this individual did not possess the appropriate visa to receive monetary compensation for the speaking engagements she had planned during her visit to the United States,” the spokesperson said.

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“As such, she was deemed inadmissible to enter the United States for her visit, but was allowed to withdraw her application for admission. The traveler is eligible to reapply for a visa for future visits.”

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of Ms Abdel-Magied’s deportation.

"Like Australia, the United States administers a strict entry regime,” the department said. “The decision on who can enter the United States is a matter solely for the US government.”

Ms Abdel-Magied boarded a plane bound for Amsterdam, tweeting: “Those who say the world is borderless are those who have the right colour passports - or birthplace.”

The 27-year-old was born in Sudan but moved to Australia in 1992. In 2007 she was named young Australian Muslim of the year after rising to prominence as the founder of the Youth Without Borders organisation.

Now based in London, she attracted criticism on Anzac Day last year when she wrote a Facebook post referring to refugees held in detention in Australian offshore camps. The post was later deleted and Ms Abdel-Magied apologised.