Follow us on social

Screen-shot-2022-05-11-at-3.15.02-pm

The IRGC terror designation is a de-facto Iranian travel ban

Regular Iranians are finding it impossible to visit and work in the US due to Trump's eleventh hour poison pill for JCPOA renewal.

Analysis | Middle East

On March 26, a sold-out crowd excitedly awaited the performance of internationally celebrated Iranian vocalist Alireza Ghorbani at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California, as part of Pacific Symphony’s 2022 Nowruz Concert. But Mr. Ghorbani never showed up.

The day before, while boarding his flight to California, Mr. Ghorbani was approached by officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. For several hours, Mr. Ghorbani was questioned by CBP agents, who ultimately refused his entry into the United States due to his military service in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over 30 years ago.

Aside from the personal devastation of having his visa canceled, Mr. Ghorbani could not understand how he conceivably posed a risk to the United States: he is a permanent resident of Canada, had already toured the United States on multiple visas vetted by CBP and the U.S. State Department, and recently was approved by the United States Customs and Immigration Service for an EB-1 visa, affording him permanent residency solely based upon his extraordinary career achievements.

Mr. Ghorbani explained to CBP agents that military service in Iran for men over the age of 17 is mandatory and that his duties consisted mainly of clerical office work. CBP not only disregarded Mr. Ghorbani’s reasonable explanation of his service, but they also ignored the U.S. Consulate’s review of his visa eligibility and their extensive assessment that he did not pose a security threat. 

In reality, there was little that Mr. Ghorbani could say to convince an empowered CBP to permit him entry into the United States, as his denial can be traced back to a rash, ill-considered action by the Trump administration to designate the entire IRGC as a terrorist organization. The unprecedented decision to classify an entire military branch of another country as a terrorist group was undoubtedly rooted in politics, as no evidence exists to show that Trump’s move has protected or saved American lives — or even has the potential to do so. In fact, Trump’s likely intention was to derail any future U.S. negotiations involving Iran’s nuclear program — and it now appears to be doing exactly that.

When it comes to Iranian nationals, discriminatory immigration policies are nothing new. In 2016, the infamous Trump “Muslim Ban,” effectively closed the door to Iranians, including Mr. Ghorbani. Although President Biden lifted the ban soon after taking office, significant damage has been done, as tens of thousands of ordinary Iranians and their family members, including students, artists, entrepreneurs, and scientists continue to suffer irreparable harm due to visa delays and denials.

Adding insult to injury, Trump’s last-minute designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization effectively reinstituted the travel ban for many Iranians. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, any person who has been a member of a “terrorist organization” is inadmissible into the United States. Mr. Ghorbani, a soft-spoken master of Persian Classical music who has performed all over the world, is just one victim of these xenophobic and politicized policies that are divorced from any individualized, thorough analysis of actual security risks.

Trump’s policy of listing the IRGC as a terror group is also not restricted to excluding Iranians from entering the United States, as immigrants already present here may be barred from receiving a green card, prevented from naturalizing or even deported for past membership in such an organization. Although immigration law does provide some exceptions or exemptions, many if not most U.S. officials tasked with carrying out the policies lack knowledge, expertise, and training in this area — despite being endowed with unfettered discretionary powers.

This has resulted in the arbitrary and capricious application of the law. Further, the law is being applied inconsistently by different agencies, as can be seen in Mr. Ghorbani’s case, where the State Department’s thoughtful analysis contrasted with the cursory and heavy-handed decision of CBP. To date, no explanation has been given on how Mr. Ghorbani poses a threat to the United States.

Since 2015, our organization, Artistic Freedom Initiative has helped dozens of Iranian artists who suffered persecution at the hands of Islamic Republic settle and work freely in the United States. But it has not been an easy task. Our work has been greatly hindered by counterproductive policies such as the Muslim Ban and the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Like Mr. Ghorbani, many of the artists seeking our help were conscripted into the IRGC against their will. 

We do not, by any means, question the malign nature of the IRGC and its crimes in the region or against the Iranian people, including unwilling conscripts. However, the collateral damage of the U.S. government’s immigration policy towards Iran far outweighs any specious benefit to national security.

We encourage the Biden administration to overturn the Trump-era designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and instead replace it with sensible policies targeting the individuals responsible for the IRGC’s bad acts. Furthermore, the administration should promulgate clear and practical exemptions for former rank and file members of the IRGC seeking to visit the United States, reunite with families, study, or work here. In the case of the hundreds of Iranian artists seeking to enter the United States to create, perform, or exhibit works of art, such a policy will enable meaningful moments for cross-cultural exchange — a more proven strategy for de-escalating conflict than demagoguery.


Images: nejdeh_ivan_photography and Popartic via shutterstock.com
Analysis | Middle East
Kim Jong Un
Top photo credit: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the construction site of the Ragwon County Offshore Farm, North Korea July 13, 2025. KCNA via REUTERS

Kim Jong Un is nuking up and playing hard to get

Asia-Pacific

President Donald Trump’s second term has so far been a series of “shock and awe” campaigns both at home and abroad. But so far has left North Korea untouched even as it arms for the future.

The president dramatically broke with precedent during his first term, holding two summits as well as a brief meeting at the Demilitarized Zone with the North’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Unfortunately, engagement crashed and burned in Hanoi. The DPRK then pulled back, essentially severing contact with both the U.S. and South Korea.

keep readingShow less
Why new CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper is as wrong as the old one
Top photo credit: U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper speaks to guests at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Manama, Bahrain, November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Why new CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper is as wrong as the old one

Middle East

If accounts of President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities this past month are to be believed, the president’s initial impulse to stay out of the Israel-Iran conflict failed to survive the prodding of hawkish advisers, chiefly U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Michael Kurilla.

With Kurilla, an Iran hawk and staunch ally of both the Israeli government and erstwhile national security adviser Mike Waltz, set to leave office this summer, advocates of a more restrained foreign policy may understandably feel like they are out of the woods.

keep readingShow less
Putin Trump
Top photo credit: Vladimir Putin (Office of the President of the Russian Federation) and Donald Trump (US Southern Command photo)

How Trump's 50-day deadline threat against Putin will backfire

Europe

In the first six months of his second term, President Donald Trump has demonstrated his love for three things: deals, tariffs, and ultimatums.

He got to combine these passions during his Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. Only moments after the two leaders announced a new plan to get military aid to Ukraine, Trump issued an ominous 50-day deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. “We're going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don't have a deal within 50 days,” Trump told the assembled reporters.

keep readingShow less

LATEST

QIOSK

Newsletter

Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters, as well as staff analysis, opinion, and news promoting a positive, non-partisan vision of U.S. foreign policy.