UK Muslim family says it was barred from flight to L.A. to visit Disneyland

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A British Muslim family was prevented by U.S. security officials from boarding a plane from London to Los Angeles, where they were planning to visit Disneyland, British media reported Wednesday.

The 11 family members — two adults and nine children — were authorized to travel to the U.S. ahead of their flight to California on Dec. 15, but were not allowed to get on the plane at London's Gatwick airport, The Guardian reported. It identified one family member as Mohammad Tariq Mahmood.

Mahmood, a Pakistani-born gym owner, told Metro UK that he was approached by a British border control agent just moments before boarding. The agent said he had gotten a call from U.S. officials in Washington barring Mahmood from boarding the flight.

"He wouldn't tell me anything more," Mahmood told Metro UK. "I felt humiliated and my kids were tearful they were so upset. I'd never experienced anything like that."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement following an inquiry into Mahmood's case. While the agency didn't address his family's situation directly, it said would-be visitors to the U.S. can be prevented from entering the country based on more than 60 grounds of inadmissibility, including health-related issues, criminal backgrounds, immigration violations or security concerns.

"The religion, faith, or spiritual beliefs of an international traveler are not determining factors about his/her admissibility into the U.S.," the CBP statement read.

The incident comes a few weeks after Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump called for Muslims to be banned temporarily from entering the U.S., a comment prompted by the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings by two radicalized Muslims that left 14 people dead.#

One can not help but feel that given an explanation will help clear the air. It id humane to explain reason for action. It will also guard against misconception such as relating issues to relation which always have sentiments attached to them.meanwhile British prime minister has promised to investigate this matter according to USA Today.