US Blocks British Muslims from Flight to Calif.; May Be Result of Trump's Call to Ban Muslims

A British Muslim family heading for Disneyland in California was barred from boarding a flight to Los Angeles by U.S. authorities at London's Gatwick airport amid concerns of an American overreaction to the perceived radical Islamic terrorist threat, The Guardian website reports today (December 23, 2015).

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials provided no explanation for why the country refused to allow the family of 11 to board the plane, even though they had been granted travel authorization online ahead of their planned December 15 flight.

Senior politicians have been drawn into the case, warning that a growing number of British Muslims are being barred from the U.S. without being told the reason for their exclusion. It is believed that the comments by the Republican presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump -- calling for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. in order to reduce terrorist attacks -- have had an impact in preventing Muslims from entering the U.S.

Aides to the UK prime minister, David Cameron, have promised that he will examine the case, which comes as community groups in the U.S. have warned that radical Muslims are being involved in an increase of violent and hostile incidents. The recent terror attacks by radical Muslims that killed 130 people in Paris and 14 people in San Bernardino, California illustrate a clear need for an extensive screening process -- including a thorough background check -- of Muslims entering the U.S., in order to prevent such attacks.