Spanish Oddities
Spanish newly-weds held at JFK Airport over husband's common surname
By m.p. - Nov 4, 2009 - 11:57 AM
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EFE archive
Officials suspected he could have been a South American trying to enter the country illegally
A newly-married couple from Lepe in Huelva had a late start to their honeymoon this week after arriving at New York’s JFK Airport and being told by officials there that they could not enter the United States until their identities were confirmed.
Jesús Vélez Alonso and his bride Cristina Prieto arrived at JFK early on Tuesday evening after their marriage last Saturday. When they reached Customs however, they had their passports withheld, were searched and were held there for four hours until confirmation came from Washington that they could be allowed in.
Their travel agents were unable to give any help and simply told the couple to remain calm and follow the officers’ instructions.
Relatives told the EFE news agency that police suspected the husband, who has a surname which is very common in Latin America, was a South American who may have been trying to enter the country illegally.