Victorian MP Khalil Eideh blocked from entering US

THE Andrews Government is demanding American authorities reveal why a state Labor MP on a taxpayer-funded study tour overseas was blocked from entering the United States this morning.

ALP State conference, Melbourne Town Hall. Labor Party. Labor upper house MP Khalil Eideh.

THE Andrews Government is seeking answers to why a State Labor MP on a taxpayer-funded study tour overseas was blocked from entering the United States.

Western Metropolitan MP Khalil Eideh, who is understood to have had a valid visa for the US for weeks, was stopped at Vancouver airport in Canada while the rest of the parliamentary group were allowed to continue through immigration checks.

United Airlines told Mr Eideh he had been denied entry to America, but gave no reason for the refusal.

He is now planning to abandon the official trip and return home, and close friends say he is shaken by the experience.

Travelling colleagues described the situation as “outrageous and frightening”.

Labor MPs are now demanding an explanation from American officials, while Andrews Government spokeswoman Georgia Brumby said the government was formally seeking an explanation.

“The Victorian Government has made representations to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and have asked them to seek an explanation from the US authorities as to why a Victorian Member of Parliament was refused entry to the United States,” she said.

State Parliament Speaker Colin Brooks has also made diplomatic approaches.

Mr Eideh is on a tour of Europe and North America with several colleagues who are looking at international drug laws, and have met with police and medical experts overseas.

Sex Party MP Fiona Patten told the Herald Sun the rest of the group had arrived in Denver in the US, but Mr Eideh had been forced to remain in Vancouver.

“He was issued a visa weeks ago, you would have thought if something changed the US government could have let us know,” she said.

“Something is seriously wrong with their system if they are blocking a member of parliament after they have been issued a visa.

“It was outrageous and frightening for everyone involved.”

Labor MP Natalie Suleyman, who is also on the trip, said Mr Eideh was dismayed by the decision.
“We all went through the extensive process to receive a visa from the USA for our diplomatic passports,” she said.

“To leave your colleague behind, it was distressing and it’s not a nice experience, and we were all shocked.”

State MPs said it was unclear why Mr Eideh, who was born in Lebanon, was not allowed to proceed.

Fiona Patten.

Lebanon is not on the list of countries US president Donald Trump has targeted regarding travel bans, and Mr Trump recently met with the Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri in the US.

However, Mr Eideh has strong links to Syria — which Mr Trump has targeted — and has previously come under scrutiny for his views in support of Syria’s dictatorship.

The other state MPs are now on an internal flight in the US, to continue their study tour that has included assessing drug laws in Europe.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent has been with MPs on the trip to Europe and North America.

Ms Patten said apart from the diplomatic incident now affecting Mr Eideh, the trip had been going well and was worthwhile.

“It is so interesting to see how other countries are dealing with the challenges of drug harm and certainly they are taking a lot of difference in approaches to Australia, such as in some areas providing heroin to people who are addicted rather than letting bikies provide that heroin.”

The Herald Sun has attempted to contact Mr Eideh.

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