On Sunday, 29th January, 2017, the CNN producer and editor was detained at Atlanta airport. He has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the President Donald Trump's immigration order.

Mohammed Tawfeeq is an Iraqi national, and since 2013, he has been a permanent legal resident of the United States.

The lawsuit states that, as an editor and as a part of his reporting duties, Tawfeeq frequently travels to the Middle East.

On Sunday, at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Tawfeeq was detained, where he was subjected to the additional screening that delayed his entry into the United States.

The lawsuit states, defendants used the Trump's recent executive order to unlawfully detain Tawfeeq, who is a legal permanent resident of U.S., an immigrant from Iraq, and the award-winning Middle Eastern journalist, and also the current manager of CNN's International Desk.

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The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other legal federal agencies, seeking a declaration of Tawfeeq’s rights under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The lawsuit states that, applying this executive order to the lawful permanent residents or green card holders returning after a brief trip from abroad violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit also states, “The executive order has greatly increased the uncertainty involved in current and future international travel for returning lawful permanent residents like Mr. Tawfeeq.”

CNN spokeswoman, Bridget Leininger in a statement, said,“This is a basic request to clarify and assert his rights under the law. We support him in this effort and hope its resolved quickly.”

By Mrudula.