What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The White House says a five-year-old boy was held for five hours and reportedly handcuffed because he could have been a “threat” to the United States.

The boy was one of more than 100 people detained for hours at airports across the country, after Donald Trump signed an Executive Order banning travel from seven majority Muslim countries.

In a briefing tonight, Donald Trump’s Press Secretary Sean Spicer said: “To assume that just because of someone’s age and gender that they don’t pose a threat would be misguided and wrong.”

The boy, who was identified by Senator Chris Van Hollen as a US citizen who lives in Maryland, was detained at Washington DC’s Dulles airport on Saturday.

(Image: CNN) (Image: CNN)

He was seen being showered with kisses by his mother, who is believed to be Iranian-born, after they were reunited.

Senator Van Hollen said it was “outrageous” that the boy had been held for so long - adding that he was detained despite giving the authorities advance notice of his arrival.

When he called to see if he had been released, Senator Van Hollen said airport authorities refused to say.

Tonight, British MPs passed a motion calling on Donald Trump to repeal the Muslim ban.

(Image: Getty)

It came after former Labour leader Ed Miliband was granted an emergency debate on the Muslim ban.

In a passionate speech during the debate, Mr Miliband said: “It clearly is a Muslim ban. Why do I say that? Because it was the president’s original intention.”

He added: “There is no question that these countries in their different ways are extremely dangerous places. The question is whether a blanket ban on people from these countries makes sense, and in my view it does not.”