#NoSecondClassCitizens
Below are stories from Americans and Europeans whose lives have suddenly been altered by the new discriminatory visa law.
After the San Bernardino and Paris attacks, the United States decided to scapegoat Americans of Iranian, Syrian, Sudanese, and Iraqi heritage. Congress did this when they passed legislation that states people who have even visited those four countries should be subject to question, and be required to apply for visas when entering the United States. Visa laws are reciprocal – that means other countries respond to changes to our travel laws – which means Congress may have just inadvertently restricted Americans of Iranian, Syrian, Sudanese, and Iraqi heritage AND those who have traveled to those countries from traveling without a visa, like fellow Americans are free to do.
Don’t let discrimination dictate our country’s laws, and create second class citizens based on heritage. Take action: www.NoSecondClassCitizens.com
To share a story, tweet at our handle @NIACAction or email Elham Khatami ([email protected]).
“With three hours to go until take-off I finally got through to ESTA and was told our travel request has been denied because of our Iranian nationality.”
Rana Rahimpour,
British-Iranian Journalist for BBC News
Source: BBC
@ranarahimpour My fully #British daughter can’t attend her #American cousin’s bday cos her mum was born in #Iran. pic.twitter.com/8Rt1aHLlTD
— Rana Rahimpour (@ranarahimpour) January 19, 2016
“At the end, she told me that because of my nationality and field of study, I was not eligible to travel to the United States under the normal visa guidelines and would have to wait six to eight weeks for additional processing… I told her I was scheduled to fly out the next day. She said that wasn’t going to be possible.”
Dr. Amin Shokrollahi,
Renowned German-Iranian Professtor at
École Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne
Source: The Intercept
“No-one would argue the case for better security, but the State Department did say, people wanting to do legitimate travel to the US would not be affected by the changes to the VWP.
And whilst the changes have been presented as “travelers have a simply apply for a Visa,” it’s not that simple. It’s much more time consuming, it’s expensive, and who is approved or denied is left to the discretion of the consular officer – with no recourse to challenge any decision.”
Shahin Sarir,
Iranian-born Australian
Source: Emailed to NIAC
I’m a Swedish-Iranian dual citizen studying in US + feel rejected by a place I’ve called home for 3 yrs #VisaWaiver https://t.co/LVXIqlpI6S
— Saina Behnejad (@SainaBehnejad) December 22, 2015
“My wife Newsha Tavakolian, can no longer enter the U.S. with her EU passport: because [she’s] Iranian born.”
Thomas Erdbrink,
Journalist for The New York Times,
Reporting from Iran
Source: Politico
I’m no longer allowed to travel to the @nytimes headquarters without a visa. America, it was fun while it lasted. pic.twitter.com/vRfdL6gQhr
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) January 26, 2016
“I feel a sense of being different than my American peers, …I don’t think that’s right and that’s not what this country is built on and I fear that is what my daughters are going to feel as well.”
Mina Bagherzadeh,
Iranian American residing in Washington, D.C.
Source: NPR
“Due to HR 158, the new visa waiver program restrictions, Marjan Vahdat, one of the duo singers who has a European passport has been denied entry to US. She boarded the plane in Tehran and although she had an entry visa to US, she was stopped in Frankfurt airport and was denied boarding the plane coming to US.”
Marjan Vahdat,
Iranian Musician
Source: Central Stage & Hamyar Art Foundation
I officially feel like a sub-EU citizen: my #ESTA visa now reads “not authorized to travel” to US under #VisaWaiver Program #HR158
— Ellie Geranmayeh (@EllieGeranmayeh) January 22, 2016
“The first time I heard of it was when I checked my email last Friday and it say I was no longer authorized to travel to the USA… I was angry and confused at that point. It is like a tax on your nationality.”
Yasamin Omoomian,
British-born, Half-Iranian
Source: Nottingham Post
@ChrisVanHollen, my Iranian partner became a US citizen this year — please #StopHR158! #NoSecondClassCitizens pic.twitter.com/L6qWGAb6ld
— Caitlin Duffy (@DuffyInDC) December 20, 2015
“My son may not have the same opportunities as I did because of his heritage. That’s heartbreaking.”
Ali Partovi
Iranian American,
Code.org Founder
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
“If Europe reciprocates and says, ‘If our hyphenated Iranians will have to get a visa to come to the US, then American-hyphenated Iranians need to get a visa to come to Europe.’ […] Even people who weren’t planning to go Europe, or they haven’t gone to Europe let’s say for the last 20 to 30 years, are saying: ‘Why the hell us?’”
Dr. Firouz Naderi,
Iranian American, Senior Scientist at NASA
Source: The Guardian
80yr old British born’n’bred family friend has ESTA cancelled 2 days before trip 2 US. She has Iranian nationality thru marriage #VisaWaiver
— Ramita Navai (@ramitanavai) January 24, 2016
Grr @ #visawaiver. I’m UK born & raised with British mum. But b/c my dad was born in Tehran I need to be checked out? Madness! @NIACAction
— Leili Farzaneh (@LeiliFarzaneh) January 30, 2016
“Our travel is being restricted, visas denied, rights erased. How did the Japanese feel between Pearl Harbor and the camps? What did the Jews tell themselves when rumors of segregation began? Hate brews slowly.”
Najva Sol,
Iranian-American Artist
Source: apracticalwedding.com
“The goal is that should another HR158 arise, here in the US or abroad, the voice of opposition will not only belong to Iranians, but it will be joined by a diverse set of informed citizens calling upon their elected representatives to stand against such ill informed policies.”
Negar Mortazavi,
Iranian-American Lawyer
Source: The Huffington Post
Painful irony of new #VisaWaiver law is that it criminalizes the very people who left terror behind to rebuild their lives in EU & US.
— Shiva Balaghi (@SBalaghi) January 23, 2016
I am an Iranian-German dual citizen. I am NOT a terrorist. America, stop the hateful discrimination. #StopHR158
— البرز Elburs (@Alborz69) December 22, 2015
“I was born in this country and have spent my entire life here. I am a proud American; this is my home. Yet, based on our ancestry, this law discriminates against me and other Americans.”
Kourosh Kolahi,
Orthopedic Surgery Resident at UCSF-Fresno
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
funniest thing is that last year when I graduated, DOJ wanted me to work with them & this year I’m a second class citizen @NIACAction
— Kimya Forouzan (@kimyaf) January 27, 2016
My Christmas wish: love and peace wins vs. a racist and ill-formed addendum to the budget bill still in the senate. @StopHR158 #stopHR158
— Taraneh Bastani (@tbastani) December 24, 2015
“I also call upon my fellow Iranian Americans to step up to the plate. There is no doubt that Iranian Americans are some of the most successful entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, philanthropists and scientists in this country. All of this success is useless, however, if we remain complacent when it comes to civic participation.”
Yassamin Ansari,
Iranian American residing in New York City
Source: The Huffington Post
“Diversity and inclusion means diversity and inclusion for all – not just diversity and inclusion for Iranians who have not visited Iran after 2011. End of story.”
Gazalé Poorsoltan,
Iranian American residing in Atlanta, GA
Source: Emailed to NIAC
So, turns out I can’t travel to the U.S. anymore because I visited my grandma in Iraq three years ago. #VisaWaiver
— Sham Jaff (@sham_jaff) January 23, 2016
“We are not threats to the national security. We are simply Iranian-Americans who hold both passports proudly. We can’t choose sides. Could you choose only one of your parents?”
Sara,
Iranian American residing in Tehran
Source: Humans of Tehran
@mdubowitz Ironically when Jason Rezaian is freed he will need a new #HR158 Visa to come home. No, the irony is that he will be freed…
— Behrouz Bahmani (@Behrouz_Bahmani) December 28, 2015
feel free to like/share. all help welcome. my video summary of #hr158 letter. #visawaiver #iranians https://t.co/M60q8ThNPh
— Elica Le Bon (@ElicaLeBon) December 31, 2015
Great! visited Iran to see my Grandma for one last time after 7 years and now I can’t visit the US without visa #StopHR158 #discrimination
— Sina_Lotfahmadi (@Sina_Lotfahmadi) December 22, 2015
Discrimination. “BBC journalist stopped from flying to US over UK-Iranian nationality” https://t.co/9bV4xS4yrV Act: https://t.co/ErayEDFbAs
— Roya Soleimani (@royasol) January 21, 2016
Iranian physics conference cancelled due to US #visawaiver bill #hr158 which would punish EU citizens who visit Iran https://t.co/JvAfY1g9qV
— Jonathan Oppenheim (@postquantum) January 5, 2016
Not all muslims are extremists. Not all middle easterners are Muslims. And NO Iranian has ever carried a terrorist attack. #HR158
— Megan Yahya (@marjoon) December 22, 2015
tfw you’re sipping a pina colada on the beach and reading about having your rights taken away #notrelaxing #visawaver #HR158
— Najva Sol (@Najvasol) December 24, 2015
Join me in telling Congress & @POTUS to waive #visa discrimination! https://t.co/OUDtc8rbUj
— MazJobrani (@MazJobrani) January 28, 2016