Syrian Cinematographer​ for Oscar-Nominated Film Barred Entry To United States

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Syrian cinematographer, who worked on the Academy Award-nominated documentary "The White Helmets" was reportedly barred entry to the United States as he traveled to the awards show.

Despite a court order blocking President Donald Trump's ban on travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria, U.S. immigration authorities are barring entry to 21-year- old Syrian cinematographer Khaled Khatib, who worked on the harrowing film about his nation's civil war, according to The Associated Press. The film is an Oscar nominee for best documentary short. It remains unclear exactly what prompted immigration authorities to deny the artist entry even though he carried a valid U.S. visa.

The AP, citing internal Trump administration documents, reports that the Department of Homeland Security decided at the last minute to block Khaled Khatib from traveling to Los Angeles for Sunday night's Oscars ceremony. The cinematographer had been issued a visa to enter the United States and was scheduled to arrive Saturday in Los Angeles on a Turkish Airlines flight departing from Istanbul. However his plans went awry when U.S. officials reported finding "derogatory information' against Khatib, The AP reported. "Derogatory information" is a broad category that can include everything from terror connections to passport irregularities.

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The AP reported that Turkish authorities detained Khatib earlier this week, although it was not clear why.

A message on Khatib's Twitter account sent today says, I get US visa but I haven't traveled to U.S At all, and I won't travel to OSCAR due to intensity of work, our priority is helping our people."

CBS News reported Saturday that one if its reporters spoke with Khatib by phone, and the cinematographer said he was in Istanbul and had not been detained, but he declined to elaborate.

The Department of Homeland Security did not return a call for comment. Attempts to reach the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for comment were unsuccessful.

In addition to "White Helmets," the other four nominees in the category of Best Documentary Short are "Extremis," "4.1 Miles," "Joe's Violin" and "Watani: My Homeland."

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Youtube screengrab.