Stories

A Canadian citizen of Iranian descent family who applied for a U.S. visa received a denial of entry to the U.S., singled out and flagged by the U.S. authorities due to the father of the family's conscription thirty years ago. As a result, the whole family members were deemed inadmissible to enter the U.S. including the family's 12-year-old son. He was denied entry to the U.S. while travelling with his West Vancouver School District team to attend the Robotic World Championship in Dallas, USA. The young boy was devastated and full of hope that he would do well in the competition. Tragically, he left the airport with a heavy heart full of sorrow. The boy was angry with his parents, who he felt were responsible due to their Iranian race. For a father, such an incident is the most painful experience imaginable.

A five-year-old girl has been diagnosed with 10q26 syndrome. The family were waiting so long for their daughter's medical appointment at the Chao lab's EBF3-related disorders research study at Texas Children's Hospital. Finally, the family planned their trip to Texas for their daughter's treatment. After many entries into the U.S., shockingly, they have been informed by the U.S. CBP officials of their inadmissibility into the U.S. due to the compulsory service history of the father of the family. The inadmissibility left the family in a great bind. After five years of waiting, they missed the treatment opportunity. All the family members are so frustrated and anxious. The children of the family are struggling with anxiety and missing school as a result of injustice treatment by the CBP officials. 

A Torontonian family with multiple travelling histories to the U.S., became inadmissible to the U.S. while travelling with their daughter to assist her in moving to her new place in New York City. The daughter of the family had been accepted into Marta Graham dance school. The family was denied entry to the U.S. through the land border due to the father of the family's compulsory military service in Iran 33 years ago. Such an injustice act separated the family from their daughter and caused immense emotional challenges and uncertainty with family reunification.

A Canadian-Iranian couple welcomed their first-born child and planned a trip to the U.S. to take their newborn child for family reunification. The family was deemed inadmissible into the U.S. based on the father of the family's compulsory service in IRGC over 30 years ago. The couple was devastated to hear the news, and they could not believe that a past association would restrict their freedom to travel. The infant's first visit to meet extended family members would have to wait, and the family was left to deal with the emotional consequences of the situation.

A Canadian-Iranian man deemed inadmissible to the U.S. due to his mandatory conscription in the IRGC decades ago was halted and interrogated for hours by the Mexican border authority while travelling to Cancun with his family members for vacation. The parents and their two children were detained for 24 hours without food and drink to be deported back to Canada without any reason given. The family was left vulnerable and helpless, having been treated unfairly and unjustly. 

A Canadian father and his family with a diabetic child were denied entry to the U.S. and interrogated by the CBP officials for hours due to the father's conscripted service in IRGC many years ago. During the interrogation, the diabetic child started feeling unwell without having access to his medication or a proper meal. The family was terrified as their child's health was in jeopardy with no medical assistance. This incident highlights the risks of not providing adequate medical attention to individuals in need.

A Canadian-Iranian individual, who worked in the U.S. as an engineer, faced deportation under the IRGC’s listing. As a result, he lost his employment which put him and his family in a significant stress and financial dilemma. His wife left him due to the inability to provide basic needs for his family. Despite contributing to his community in the U.S., he was oppressed and discriminated against by his background and place of birth. The situation highlights the consequences of policies that do not account for human lives and tearing families apart.

A Canadian teenager traumatized and frustrated by not being able to attend his post-secondary education in the U.S. due to his father's conscription in the IRGC decades ago in Iran. As a result, the whole family became inadmissible to the U.S., The teenager's future is at stake due to the decision made by the U.S. officials to risk his future and limit his access to higher education level.

A Canadian research assistant professor who received a tenure-track position from one of the U.S. universities managed to obtain a visa for herself and her daughter to start her new role. Unfortunately, her spouses' visa application was denied due to his compulsory service in Iran decades ago. As a result, the couple had to live apart. The separation caused numerous mental and emotional hardships, especially for their 13-year-old daughter who can not have a happy childhood being apart from her dad. Her every year Christmas wish is to have her father next to her. The family faced their biggest hurdle of separation due to an unfair decision made by U.S. officials.

As a result of being inadmissible to the U.S., TSA will flag the individual's name. As a result, every individual who wishes to travel to/from Canada has to pass an extensive procedure to receive clearance from TSA for boarding card issuance. Subsequently, having a boarding pass labelled with SSSS, the individuals have to go through an extensive security check. The mentioned lengthy procedure could end up in an individual missing their flights. The story even gets worse once an individual arrives in Canada. Another secondary check by the CBSA officer as a result of the individual name being flagged by the U.S. officials.