The partial reinstitution of President Trump's travel ban is leading to confusion for many New Yorkers, who say they're not clear how they'll be affected. NY1's Lori Chung filed the following report.
Ibrahim Qatabi says the Supreme Court decision to allow the Trump administration to move forward with a limited version of its controversial travel ban came as a shock.
"As a Muslim American, as a Yemeni American, we are very disappointed," Qatabi said.
"This is not what America is all about," he added. "America is about freedom, about opportunities."
Qatabi is among those who worry the high court is giving the president leeway to discriminate. His native Yemen is one of six predominantly Muslim countries singled out as a national security risk.
"I have friends who actually won the visa lottery to the United States. They don't know what to do," he said.
An Atlantic Avenue smoke shop was one of several Yemeni American businesses that closed for a day in protest to the ban earlier this year. Workers are still at a loss.
"It's already troubling to try to be an American citizen from all the vetting they're doing, and now it's just, it's just completely shut down," said Jabr Zanta, a Yemeni American.
The travel ban can now be enforced as long as it excludes those with a "credible claim of a bonafide relationship with a person or entity in the United States." But critics say there's no way to know what that mean or who that applies to.
"We were just figuring out if refugees would be impacted by this because they may have a relationship with an American agency. Does that count?" said Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition.
The New York Immigration Coalition is stunned that the court has decided to hear full arguments on the case this fall.
"This is an unjust and discriminatory Muslim ban," Awawdeh said.
Critics hope the court's final decision will take into account Trump's comments about Islam on the campaign trail.
"Clearly, he wants to ban Muslims. So it is important for the court to carry out its obligation and to check his powers," Qatabi said.
The ban is expected to take effect Thursday morning. Critics worry that it will lead to chaos at local airports.
For its part, the New York Immigration Coalition says it will be mobilizing attorneys and other resources at JFK Airport for those who many need it.