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01/14/10
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Urge Your Member of Congress to Oppose The STEP Act
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Source:
Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)
Congressman reintroduces legislation barring travel from Iran
 Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC/3rd) introduced the Stop Terrorists Entry
Program Act (STEP) into the House of Representatives on January 13, 2010, a bill
he originally introduced back in 2003. The STEP Act would bar the entry of
individuals to the United States from Iran and other countries that are "State
Sponsors of Terrorism", as well as Yemen.
If enacted, the proposed legislation could effectively forbid all Iranians from
immigrating, visiting, or studying in the United States. Individuals seeking
political or religious asylum as well as those requiring emergency medical
treatment may be exempt from the provisions of the Act.
The Public
Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) strongly favors taking appropriate
and necessary measures to protect the national security of the United States.
However, PAAIA is opposed to legislation that effectively bans individuals from
certain countries coming to America based on their nationality. Such proposed
legislation is not only discriminatory but also has the potential to encourage
xenophobia and hatred.
The STEP
Act is damaging to America's reputation and extremely offensive to the Iranian
American community. Iranian Americans are hard working, law abiding citizens
who have done much to strengthen the economic and social fabric of the United
States. Furthermore, recent events unfolding in Iran following the disputed June
12th presidential elections highlight the fact that the Iranian
people seek democratic freedoms and basic human rights. In fact, it was the
Iranian people who held candle-lit vigils on the streets of Tehran in solidarity
with the American people in the days following the 9/11 attacks.
Legislation
such as the STEP Act would not only impose an unfair and unreasonable burden on
Americans of Iranian descent but also unfairly targets the Iranian people,
undermining the solidarity between the peoples of Iran and America.
In light of
these facts, PAAIA is contacting members of Congress to inform them of our
opposition to the STEP Act. PAAIA is also carefully monitoring this issue and
will report on developments as they become available.
Click
here to
read the text of the STEP Act.PAAIA Urges You to Take Action!
Ask your member
of Congress to oppose the STEP Act!
... Payvand News - 01/14/10 ... --
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