Dr. Suha Abushamma, the Cleveland Clinic physician who was banned from the U.S. under President Trump's immigration executive order, has returned to Cleveland.
Abushamma returned to the U.S. Monday. She spoke to media and some of her fellow doctors during a news conference at the Intercontinental Hotel Tuesday afternoon. She also thanked the team of lawyers that helped her return to Cleveland.
"Let me start by saying how happy I am to be back here in Cleveland with my friends, my fiance and all the people I consider part of my family," Abushamma said during the news conference. "I missed them so much."
You can watch the press conference in its entirety below:
Abushamma has been a Cleveland Clinic employee on a work visa since July. The Associated Press reports that she had been on a trip to Saudi Arabia and was detained in New York City under Trump's temporary ban before she was sent back to the Middle East. Abushamma is from Sudan, one of seven Muslim-majority countries included in Trump's executive order.
Abushamma's visa was canceled as part of the ban, but she received a visa waiver this week and was readmitted to her prior status.
Lawyers say because she is of lawful classification, Abushamma's status won't be affected by any of the ongoing lawsuits regarding Trump's executive order.
"While this has been a challenge to me in many ways, today I am feeling much gratitute," Abushamma said. "I'm looking forward to getting back to work and putting patients first."
The Cleveland Clinic also shared this video, from the moment Abushamma returned and surprised her coworkers:
We're so happy to welcome Dr. Suha Abushamma back to Cleveland! Watch the moment she surprised her friends and closest colleagues. pic.twitter.com/ppgmpQFD81
— Cleveland Clinic (@ClevelandClinic) February 7, 2017