Overview

• Pouria Amirshahi, a Green Party MP born in Iran and founder of the anti-neo-fascism group La Digue, applied for a US visa on May 19 to meet progressive lawmakers in Washington, New York and Boston.
• The US Embassy in Paris denied his application on June 18 after he provided additional documents on June 4.
• Embassy officials said on June 19 that they are reconsidering the grounds for the refusal following his public denouncement.
• His case follows reports of increased visa denials and tougher scrutiny for foreign critics of President Trump’s policies.
• Amirshahi has urged US authorities to overturn the decision, arguing that parliamentary diplomacy is essential to counter authoritarian movements.