Dear John,
This morning, CBS News reported [[link removed]] that the Trump administration is expected to issue an executive order as early as today establishing a designation for state sponsors of wrongful detention, which could have significant implications for American travel to Iran. According to the report, the new order would allow the administration to “potentially issue geographic travel restrictions on where a U.S. passport can be used.”
While we are seeking confirmation as to whether any restrictions will be announced today, NIAC remains firmly opposed to any move to restrict the freedom of our community to see their loved ones, whether bans on entry to the United States or bans on travel to Iran. We will continue our tireless work to defend the civil rights of our community against such assaults.
The Iranian government's politically-motivated detentions of dual nationals is contemptible and must end. But imposing bans on the right of Iranian Americans to travel to Iran would be yet another example of imposing collective punishment on innocent people rather than culpable officials.
We are actively monitoring this development, and already in communication with the State Department [[link removed]] about how their policies conflict – making it extremely difficult for Iranian Americans to be with their family and loved ones, and further isolating Americans from Iranians.
With the current travel and visa ban on Iranians still in place, any movement to restrict freedom to travel could have huge impacts. Iranian Americans do not typically travel to Iran with an American passport but with an Iranian passport, over which the U.S. government theoretically does not have authority. But a ban on traveling with a U.S. passport would likely carry stiff penalties and would represent a slippery slope, potentially opening the door to harsh scrutiny of Iranian Americans traveling back to the United States, or turning travel into Iran into a legal gray zone that entails heightened risk.
According to our recent Iranian American Community Poll conducted by YouGov, 38% of Iranian Americans travel to Iran [[link removed]] -- with nearly 19% traveling to Iran every 1-4 years. That is why NIAC has been sounding the alarm and defending our community’s right to travel by pushing back on legislation in Congress [[link removed]] that is very similar to this rumored executive order.
We will keep you informed of more news on this development, and all other issues related to our civil rights and immigration. You can read our full statement here [[link removed]] , and get all the latest resources, news and updates at our Travel Ban Center [[link removed]] we launched in early 2025.
We will not stop fighting for our community to be able to travel freely, visit our loved ones, be with our families and more.
In solidarity,
Jamal Abdi
President, NIAC
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