As the state joins their lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump’s immigration ban, two University of Massachusetts Dartmouth professors detained over the weekend are speaking out.

Married couple Mazdak Pourabdollah Tootkaboni and Arghavan Louhghalam, who both teach engineering, issued their first statement since their release from a three-hour detention on January 28 at Logan International Airport after returning from an academic conference in France.

In their statement, the professors stated they are happy to be back in America and back to work at the university.

“We have always felt welcomed in America, a country with a vibrant academic community and a place where the quest for science and innovation has been fueled by a diverse and colorful influx of creative and compassionate minds,” the statement read.

The professors filed a petition in Boston Federal District Court against President Trump, suing to block enforcement of the executive order banning natives of seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The lawsuit resulted in an early Sunday morning seven-day temporary restraining order, issued by Judge Allison D. Burroughs and Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein, barring the government from carrying out a majority of the executive order.

Tootkaboni Louhghalam thanked their colleagues at UMass Dartmouth and the higher education community, and said their treatment was “kind and humane.” The professors touched upon the national and international coverage their detention and subsequent lawsuit generated as well, stating that they hope their experience – and the experiences of other immigrants over the weekend – spurs action.

“It is our hope that the national dialogue, ignited by our experience and that of many other immigrants who yearn only to pursue the American dream, results in laws and polices grounded in humanity,” the statement read.

Hours before their statement was released, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced that the Commonwealth would join the professors’ lawsuit against President Trump.

“Harm to our institutions, our citizens, and our businesses is harm to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Healey said in a press release. “The President’s executive order is a threat to our Constitution. Rather than protecting our national security, it stigmatizes those who would lawfully emigrate to our state. With this policy, our global universities, hospitals, businesses and start-ups, and far too many students and residents have been put at risk.”

Marty Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts system, joined Healey as she made the announcement. In a statement, Meehan offered sharp criticism of the order.

"We are deeply disheartened by this alarming action that has violated the rights of members of the UMass community and many others. This is not the country we promised to them when we invited them to study, teach and conduct research here," he said in a statement.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit, added several new plaintiffs to it on February 1, all Iranian nationals who are either lawful permanent residents of the United States or are in the country on student visas. A hearing is scheduled for February 3. The temporary restraining order issued early Sunday morning is in effect for seven days.