UPDATE: President Trump’s Controversial Immigration Ban
WASHINGTON – The implementation of President Trump’s controversial executive order to temporarily ban nationals from Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, from entering the United States was met with much confusion and reports of protests at airports across the country.
The measure prohibits immigrant and non-immigrant nationals from the designated countries from entering the United States for at least 90 days. As of today, this includes Iranian nationals who hold valid visas as well as Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs-green card holders) and dual nationals who also hold a passport from a non-designated country. Administration officials have determined that LPRs would be considered on a case-by-case basis to enter the country following a security review. The executive order is not expected to impact American citizens. Click here for updated clarifications from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
In the first successful legal challenge to the executive order, a U.S. federal judge from New York issued a temporary stay blocking authorities from deporting individuals with valid visas who had already arrived in the U.S.
The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is deeply concerned about the impact of this immigration ban and its haphazard implementation on our community. We are working with a coalition of national advocacy and civil rights organizations and legal experts to reverse this unlawful executive order.
The executive order has disrupted Iranian American immigrant petitions, student visas, as well as family visitation and emergency medical care for loved ones. Such measures are discriminatory and may pose an undue hardship on Iranian Americans. Click here to read our op-Ed on the effects of the executive order on the Iranian American community.
We are working with the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) to track instances of U.S. border entry denial of friends and relatives of the Iranian American community. Click here to report these cases.
PAAIA is working tirelessly to safeguard our community’s interests. We will continue to update you on developments.
Take Action Today! Urge your Members of Congress to speak out against measures harmful to American families and interests.
Write to tell the Administration to reconsider the immigration ban.
