Donald Trump supporter evacuated from Oroville dam says 'I feel like a refugee'

Sam Lyon says he's pleased children in need have been able to enter the US after travel ban was stayed

Water Resourses showing water cascading into the Feather River from the damaged Oroville Dam spillway in Butte County, USA (EPA)

A Donald Trump supporter has admitted he felt "like a refugee" when he evacuated to escape the potential collapse of the Oroville dam spillways.

Sam Lyon, 38, and his family were among 250 people taken in and fed by the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Sacramento, and the first-time voter was moved to say he wanted to repay the favour "10,000-fold".

Mr Lyon voted for Mr Trump but said some of the President's early actions, like the implementation of the travel ban, had left him "twisted". He told The Guardian: "Don’t vet them because they’re Muslim. Vet everybody, I don’t care where you’re from.

"To me that’s bigotry, that’s racism, that’s the most worst of worst. Don’t just do it to seven countries, Mr Trump, do it to everyone."

The Olivehurst, California resident said he supported the idea of Mr Trump's travel ban but was pleased to see it was suspended and that an Iranian girl who needed heart surgery was allowed to enter the US.

"What’s the harm of letting their children in? It’s a twisted situation," he added.

Mr Lyon said he "like a refugee in my own country" and criticised state officials for not providing more aid to evacuees.