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December 05, 2006
Some Iranian Visa Holders Sent Home
Some Iranian Visa Holders Sent Home
Some Iranian citizens traveling to Santa Clara this weekend for a reunion of graduates and professors from a Tehran university have been stopped at U.S. airports and told the visas they were carrying had been revoked.
The State Department on Thursday refused to say why some Iranians coming to the conference with visas approved by U.S. consulates abroad are being denied entry, detained overnight and then sent back to Iran. Event organizers said they know of 20 who have so far been turned away. More than 100 additional Iranian nationals are due at the weekend event.
"We knew that it was going to be difficult to get U.S. visas for the Iranians," said Fredun Hojabri of San Diego, founder of the Sharif University of Technology Association, a worldwide group of former students and professors associated with the 40-year-old school. But Hojabri said over the course of four months he had helped about 150 prospective participants at this weekend's combination reunion and conference work through the process to get visas.
Among those whose visas were revoked was Ali Edrissi, a doctoral student at Sharif University. Bahman Pouranpir, Edrissi's uncle and an industrial engineer from Irvine, waited for about six hours at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday for Edrissi and his bride, Sara Nadimi.
"I don't expect this to happen," Edrissi added. "If the visa was given then they shouldn't take it back."
Most of the Iranians who wanted to come here were given visas while some were denied, Hojabri said. But beginning early this week, he began to get messages from participants that they, and in some cases their families, were being sent back to Iran.
An unknown number were stopped at LAX. Hojabri said he also believes some were blocked from entering in Chicago and Toronto.
"We're not political," said Hojabri, who has lived in the United States since 1981 and is a former UC San Diego professor. "We are an association mostly to help each other scientifically and professionally."
Iran is one of five countries listed as states that sponsor terrorism and as such, visa applications from there are scrutinized more closely than from other countries. The U.S. does not have an embassy or consulate there, which is why the Iranians seeking to come here had to get their visas from Dubai and other consulates.
Wild Thing's comment........
I could care less if they like it or not. Hey Muzziebrain, we are at war with Islam.........hello!!
Posted by Wild Thing at December 5, 2006 02:47 AM
Comments
Chrissie
You are stating the truth if people wish to admit it or not we are at war with a cult that is bent on our destruction.
Posted by: jack hamilton at December 5, 2006 05:53 AM
There should be NO visas for any muslims. Why are we still letting them in. Are we chasing down those that don't leave when their visas expire?
Posted by: TomR at December 5, 2006 10:35 AM
I have to agree with Tom, NO visa's for the muzzies.
If a Muzzie leaves the country don't let them back in, if a muzzie sympathizer leaves the country don't let them back in either. Moslems spreading Islam is like your local doctor spreading smallpox, eradicate both of them.
Posted by: Jack at December 5, 2006 11:24 AM
Jack H. thank you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 5, 2006 01:29 PM
Tom I agree so much, there should be no visas for any of them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 5, 2006 01:29 PM
Jack yesss and the heck with CAIR throwing a fit about it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 5, 2006 01:30 PM
"There should be NO visas for any muslims."
AMEN! and I do believe that in time of war that is perfectly legal.
Posted by: Sierrahome at December 5, 2006 01:51 PM
They don't like how we handle it, they are welcome to go visit them in a different country. Soon as they leave, revoke their passports.
Posted by: raz0r at December 5, 2006 09:32 PM
