www.niacouncil.org/travelban [www.niacouncil.org/travelban]
Dear John,
Last week, NIAC launched our lawsuit against ICE [[link removed]] as we continue to advocate for Iranians in the U.S. being targeted with virtually no transparency.
Over the weekend, another alarming arrest by ICE illustrated yet again how critical it is that we stay organized in these times. Dr. Vahid Abedini, Assistant Professor of Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma, was arrested at the airport by ICE with little explanation while on his way to a conference in Washington, DC on Middle East Studies. Following a widespread outcry led by his closest colleagues, focused intervention by his attorney, and support from a variety of academics and friends, we are relieved that Dr. Abedini was released this morning [[link removed]] .
While the circumstances of this latest egregious arrest appear totally baseless, we know we need to remain vigilant for the many hundreds of our fellow Iranians across the U.S. who have been or could soon be targeted by ICE for their national heritage.
Based on our team's efforts to support Iranians impacted by ICE arrests, here is what you need to know and how to get involved in defending our community's rights:
* Detained individuals should immediately secure an attorney. Our Travel Ban and Immigrant Justice Center [[link removed]] is stacked with legal resources so that people have a fair shot. In multiple cases we have supported, ICE’s flimsy and arbitrary case against a person fell apart - but only because they had a dedicated lawyer.
* Getting Congressional lawmakers involved heightens oversight and can be the difference. Our policy team connects families impacted by ICE directly to their U.S. lawmakers, who can help demand transparency and uphold people’s rights while in detention, including by addressing medical needs. Contact us [[link removed]] and we’ll help connect you. No Member of Congress can magically “fix” any case, but their intervention holds weight and is often part of the solution
* Coordinating strategic media coverage can ensure abuses don’t happen in the dark. It is critical to amplify verified information, act with direction from the family or attorney, help get the family’s story out on their terms to trusted reporters, and dispel any lies about the individuals who have been targeted. Our community deserves accurate coverage that humanizes Iranians in a system trying to dehumanize us.
* Activating grassroots support can address each family’s unique needs. Our nearly 70,000 members across the country can help raise money for impacted families, organize calls and emails to unresponsive Members of Congress, and provide certified translation support to Iranians facing detention so they have full due process. Get linked up to a chapter near you [[link removed]] to be plugged into this work.
* Joining forces with the broader immigrant rights movement gives us more power. Trump is targeting all our communities, and we have to fight back together. Our Deportation Defense training partnered with the Asian Law Caucus and New York Civil Liberties Union to explain what to do when facing ICE arrests. Please check out and share our training [[link removed]] .
* We must use every avenue to expose ICE: We are documenting all known public cases of Iranians arrested by ICE at the NIAC ICE Tracker [[link removed]] , forcing their practices into the light with our recent FOIA lawsuit [[link removed]] , and supporting congressional oversight efforts like the Master ICE Tracker [[link removed]] led by Rep. Garcia.
Here’s the brutal truth: This is only going to get worse before it gets better. Staying organized in community power is the answer – and that starts with us.
If you know an Iranian impacted by ICE, contact us here [[link removed]] and we will do everything we can to help.
Lastly, if you believe in this work and want to help us keep fighting for each family, please consider donating to support it.
DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS WORK [[link removed]]
We will keep you updated, and we ask that you do the same – stay connected amid crisis. No one should go through this alone. We are in this together.
In Solidarity,
[[link removed]]
Jamal Abdi
President, NIACunsubscribe: [link removed]