Congress: Repeal Discrimination in the Visa Waiver Program

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in Congress to repeal provisions of the recently passed visa waiver program reform bill that categorically barred European citizens from the program who happen to be dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan. Different countries have different laws about nationality, which means, for example, that some European citizens are "nationals" of Iran if their father happened to be Iranian, even if they never set foot in Iran in their entire lives. [1]

Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI), John Conyers (D-MI), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have introduced H.R. 4380, Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016. [2] Similar legislation is also being introduced by Senators Jeff Flake (D-AZ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL). [3] The Obama Administration supports the legislation. [4]

Because the visa waiver program is reciprocal with Europe, passage of this legislation will protect US citizens who are dual nationals from discrimination when they travel to Europe.

Urge Members of Congress to co-sponsor this legislation to repeal discrimination by signing our petition.

References:
1. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/congress-visa-waiver-iran-iraq-syria-sudan-217714
2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4380
3. http://www.niacaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Flake-Visa-Waiver-Bill.pdf
4. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/congress-visa-waiver-iran-iraq-syria-sudan-217714