PAAIA Statement on Deportation of Iranian Student

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Shannon Kuehn
Email: shannon@paaia.org
Phone: (202) 828-8370

Washington, DC – The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) today responded to the deportation of Shahab Dehghani, a Northeastern University student with a valid F1 visa. Shahab was detained at Boston Logan International Airport last night by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers and eventually deported despite an active federal court order issued for a stay on his deportation. This is only the latest instance of Iranian students being deported. Late last year, PAAIA worked with partner organizations to gain clarity about reports that over 20 Iranian nationals approved for valid student visas had their visas revoked or were denied entry without explanation only days before they were due to begin the academic school year at top universities like Northwestern, Harvard, Stanford, UC Davis, and more.

In response to this alarming trend, PAAIA issued the following statement:

“The recent increase in deportation of Iranian students is of deep concern to PAAIA. PAAIA is calling on local officials and members of Congress to demand answers from the administration over this troubling trend as we work with attorneys assisting Shahab’s case.  The escalation of tension between the U.S. and Iran cannot cloud decision-making when it comes to student visas. PAAIA will continue to actively assist with this and the other deportation and visa cases.”

Please contact us if you know any student being deported or denied entry for unknown reasons.

About PAAIA: The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization that serves the interests of Iranian Americans and represents the community before U.S. policymakers and the American public at large.