Discrimination & Immigration
Fight Discrimination & Ease Burdens on Iranian Students
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NIAC
is committed to promoting US policies that benefit all Americans,
including Iranian-Americans, by building bridges and fighting
discrimination. There are over one million Americans of Iranian descent
woven into the diverse fabric of this nation, and Iranian-Americans are
among the most highly educated, affluent, and productive immigrant
communities in the United States. According to one study,
Iranian-Americans contribute over $400 billion to the US economy
annually. As such, US policy should welcome and encourage the
contributions of Iranians and Iranian-Americans.
NIAC supports immigration policies that ease burdens for visa-seekers and is working to address current US policy that permits only single-entry visas for Iranian students studying in American universities. This counterproductive rule prevents Iranian students from leaving the US during the entire duration of their studies, even in the event of a family emergency.
Unfortunately, some in Washington prefer to exploit the immigration issue to score political points, pandering to prejudice instead of pursuing smart policies. NIAC has led the fight against anti-Iranian-American discrimination, including unjust legislation that would deny visas for Iranians and cut off Iranian-Americans from their family and friends in Iran.
See Related Legislation & Resources
Related Legislation & Resources
Legislation |
Position |
Resources |
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| S.T.E.P. Act (H.R. 4441) - bans Iranians from receiving U.S. visas, and for other purposes. | Oppose | Bill Text |
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As NASA's Ferdowsi Inspires, Iranian Visa Obstacles Should Be Cleared |
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Iranian Students Hit by Sanctions on Schools, Banks |
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Minnesota Public Radio: TCF Bank Notifies Iranian Students of Account Closures |
See more discrimination & immigration news >>
Case Studies
Case #1 – Missing Major Family Events:
A female Iranian citizen who lives in the United States with her husband is here on an H-4 visa, which is a single-entry student visa. She and her husband have not been able to visit Iran since their marriage two years ago. They have not been able to attend her sister’s wedding and see her sister’s newborn baby. Her mother had an accident and underwent extensive surgery, yet she could not make a trip to be by her side. She has not been able to visit her elderly grandmother who is increasingly facing illness. She was not able to grieve with her family after her uncle was executed by the Iranian government at the one year anniversary of the 2009 elections. This time apart is preventing her from being with her family during very important life changes and events.
Case #2 – Lost Admissions:
NIAC has received many notices from Iranian students who have been admitted to American universities, but have to go through long administrative processes in order to receive their student visas. Many students have been told by the U.S. Consulate in Dubai that their process was complete, but upon returning to Dubai to pick up their visas, they were given their passports without the proper visa and told that further processing time was needed. The students did not receive any advance notice or explanation about this delay. As a result, many of the students lost their admission status and funding to American universities.
Case #3 – Hate in Workplace:
An Iranian-American woman who was the Director at a major global pharmaceutical company faced traumatic discrimination at her work. She was called a terrorist and received defamatory and offensive emails. When she complained to the Human Resources department, her employees retaliated against her.
What is NIAC doing to help?
NIAC is committed to promoting US policies that benefit all Americans, including Iranian-Americans, by building bridges and fighting discrimination in the workplace and media. NIAC also supports immigration policies that ease burdens for visa-seekers, and is working to address current U.S. policy that permits only single-entry visas for Iranian students studying in American universities. This counterproductive rule prevents Iranian students from leaving the U.S. during the duration of their studies, even in the event of a family emergency.
Contact NIAC's Policy Team
The National Iranian American Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community. We accomplish our mission by supplying the resources, knowledge and tools to enable greater civic participation by Iranian Americans and informed decision making by policymakers.
US government officials and policymakers in need of rapid support can contact the NIAC policy team for in-depth information and analysis either by phone at 202.386.6325 or via email at policy@niacouncil.org. (Note: If you don't have a government (.gov) email address, please use our regular contact form. All non-government emails will be blocked by spam filters.)
