As an Iranian couple mourns the loss of their newborn, the travel ban keeping them apart adds to the pain
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Safa Sefidgari, an Iranian Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University, gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks, but her husband, Ehsan Entezari, was unable to join her due to the U.S. travel ban targeting Iranian citizens, resulting in the baby’s death a week later.
- Entezari’s repeated attempts to obtain an F-2 visa, which would allow him to join his wife in the U.S., were denied without clear explanation, citing family ties, travel history, and the Trump administration’s travel ban as factors.
- The couple has joined a lawsuit challenging the travel ban’s impact on student and dependent visas, arguing that the ban unfairly delays visa processing for Iranian students and their families.
- Despite support from friends and advocacy from Senator Cory Booker, who condemned the travel ban as discriminatory, Sefidgari continues to face emotional and academic challenges alone while grieving her loss and managing her Ph.D. program.
- The case highlights broader issues faced by Iranian families caught in immigration restrictions amid geopolitical tensions, with many stuck in legal limbo and separated from loved ones due to stringent U.S. visa policies.
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