Spotlighting Iranian Cinema as We Prepare for the Travel Ban’s Comeback
See the film we just screened, find answers to questions and resources, and organize in your community opposing the return of the Muslim Travel Ban
Eagle Act Memo
On November 14, 2023, Senators Cramer (R-ND) and Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act. A version of this bill, which ends country caps limiting how many employment-based green cards can be dispersed to nationals of any single country, has been introduced in subsequent Congresses. Despite at-times fierce […]
نایاک با پیشنهاد تصویب قانونی برای ممنوعیت سفر به ایران مخالفت می‌کند
جمال عبدی، مدیر شورای ملی ایرانیان آمریکا (نایاک) در واکنش به پیشنهاد الیوت آبرامز، نماینده ویژه دولت آمریکا در امور ایران در زمان دولت ترامپ و رابرت منندز، رئیس کمیته روابط خارجی سنا (دموکرات از ایالت نیوجرسی) درباره ممنوعیت سفر از آمریکا به ایران، بیانیه زیر را صادر کرد:
NIAC Opposes Proposals to Ban U.S. Travel to Iran
NIAC President Jamal Abdi issued the following statement in response to proposals from former Donald Trump Iran Envoy Elliot Abrams and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) to ban U.S. travel to Iran:
Call your Representative to demand they not ban Iranian Americans from seeing their loved ones
No government, whether Iranian or American, should threaten the Iranian-American community with jail time to prevent us from being able to see our loved ones. We must stop these attempts to restrict Iranian American rights before it’s too late. Here is a step-by-step guide to call your representative’s office to express your opposition to his proposal to ban travel to Iran.
NIAC Urges State Department to Expedite Visa and Refugee Processing for Iranian Students
The National Iranian American Council wrote Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to continue efforts to expedite visas and refugee processing for Iranian nationals, with a specific focus on Iranian students. Unfortunately, Iranian students are encountering difficulties in securing visas via administrative backlogs and unexplained rejections.
Americans must unite to reject 21st Century ‘alien land laws’
NIAC is glad to join with John Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice to call for Americans to unite to reject 21st Century ‘alien land laws’. Read our latest joint op-ed in The Hill here.
Visa and Refugee Processing for Iranians Following Nationwide Protests
One of the National Iranian American Council’s primary recommendations to the Biden administration following the outbreak of nationwide protests in Iran in September 2022 was to increase visa and refugee processing for Iranians who need to get to safety. Several months after the outbreak of protests and our recommendation, visa and refugee data indicates that the Biden administration has made some improvements in processing Iranians. However, the scale of improvement – with visa processing still lagging.
“Alien Land Law” Bill Tracker
** Last updated August 8th, 2023 ** Bills that have become law: State/Federal Bill Description Status Florida SB 264 Prohibits certain individuals from “countries of concern” from purchasing property in many locations in the state. Individuals purchasing many forms of property in Florida will now have to sign an affidavit claiming they are not “domiciled” […]
NIAC Condemns Passage of Racist Property Ownership Ban in Texas State Senate
NIAC condemns the passage of SB147 in the Texas State Senate. This discriminatory bill targets an entire class of immigrants at a time when Iranians inside Iran are protesting their authoritarian government and dying for freedom, it’s particularly insulting for the Texas State Senate to signal that Iranians in the U.S. should have less rights than their peers.
100+ civil rights organizations call out anti-immigrant Texas legislation
NIAC, United Chinese Americans, RISE AAPI and over 100 other national and Texas-based civil rights organizations signed a letter to Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick and the members of the Texas State Senate and House opposing Texas SB147.
Statement Supporting SFRC Chairman’s Call to Ease Hurdles for Iranians Seeking Safety
NIAC applauds a letter from Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to the Biden administration urging they significantly ease the process for Iranians to come to the United States amid the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on its citizens. Menendez’s recommendation suggests adopting a form of “humanitarian parole” for Iranians, which would grant eligible individuals temporary admission to the United States without a formal visa.