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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 27 June 2022
Former Iran conscripts say unfairly blocked from US travel

By AMY TAXIN said Ally Bolour, a Los An-
Associated Press geles immigration attorney
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two whose firm has sued over
years ago, Leili Ghazi quit how the designation is ap-
studying biomedical engi- plied. “It is unfair for the U.S.
neering in Iran and seized government to just throw a
the chance to travel to towel over everything and
the United States to build a just lump everybody to-
new life for herself and her gether. That’s lazy.”
parents. The U.S. has designated a
Now, the 22-year-old is sep- lengthy list of foreign ter-
arated indefinitely from her ror organizations dating
family because her father back to the 1990s, includ-
performed required military ing Hamas and Peru’s Shin-
service more than two de- ing Path. But the groups are
cades ago as a conscript almost entirely private mili-
for a branch of the Iranian tias, not state-run entities,
armed forces that the U.S. like IRGC, that enlist con-
government years later de- scripts under the law.
clared a foreign terrorist or- The secretary of state des-
ganization. The designation ignates the groups in con-
bars anyone associated sultation with the attorney
with the group from travel- general and treasury sec-
ing to the United States, in- Leili Ghazi, a 22-year-old immigrant from Iran, sits for a photo in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, June retary, and with congres-
cluding her dad. 21, 2022. Two years ago, Leili Ghazi quit studying biomedical engineering in Iran and seized the sional review, and can also
“He had to do office work chance to travel to the United States to build a new life for herself and her parents. (AP Photo/Jae revoke designations. For
and work on plans of build- C. Hong) example, the Revolutionary
ings,” said Ghazi, who has Armed Forces of Colombia
been anxious and de- months or years for back- the Biden administration tary of State Antony Blinken was listed as a foreign ter-
pressed since moving to ground checks to clear. would reverse course on said in late April that bar- ror organization in 1997 and
Southern California. She But since the Trump ad- the designation so those ring changes in Iran there delisted in 2021.
expected her parents to ministration designated who served as conscripts was no plan to remove the People who provide sup-
eventually join her but later Iran’s Islamic Revolution- could still travel. They note designation. He acknowl- port or resources to for-
learned her father would ary Guard Corps a terrorist Iranian men are compelled edged in remarks before eign terror organizations
be forced to stay behind. organization in 2019, it has to serve if they want to ob- U.S. lawmakers that those and who aren’t U.S. citi-
“He hasn’t done any activ- become all but impossible tain passports to leave the most affected are the con- zens can’t legally enter
ity of going to war or any- for anyone who served in country, have no say over scripts while “the people the country and can face
thing. It was not anything the branch, even as a con- what branch they’re as- who are the real bad guys deportation. In addition,
like that.” script and in a non-combat signed to and largely per- have no intention of trav- financial institutions that
It has long been a chal- role, to obtain a visa to form basic tasks such as el.” control funds for these
lenge for Iranians to travel travel to the United States. painting or office jobs. “There should be excep- groups must retain posses-
to the United States and Many Iranian Americans But their hopes were tions, and right now we sion of the funds and report
visa applicants often wait and their families hoped dashed when U.S. Secre- don’t have exceptions,” them to U.S. authorities.q

A roof over their head: Churches use tiny homes for homeless

sanctuaries, congrega- Fischbeck led the Episco- Fischbeck said tiny homes
tions are building every- pal Church of the Advo- can fit nearly anywhere,
thing from fixed and fully cate when it added three and an advantage to build-
contained micro homes to one-bedroom units on its ing them on church prop-
petite, moveable cabins, 15-acre campus. The first erties is they already have
and several other styles of residents, including the or- electricity, water and other
small-footprint dwellings in ganization’s namesake, infrastructure in place. “I
between. Nathaniel “Pee Wee” Lee, just feel so passionately that
Church leaders are not just moved into them in June churches have space,” she
trying to be more neigh- 2019. said. “Just consider it. It’s a
borly. The drive to provide Before that Lee, 78, had dire need.”
shelter is rooted in their be- spent years sleeping in al- The embrace of tiny homes
liefs — they must care for leys, cardboard shelters as housing solutions can be
the vulnerable, especially and cars after medical is- found in both sacred and
those without homes. sues ended his masonry secular spaces. Within the
“It’s just such an integral career. Today he enjoys Christian sphere, their use
In this photo provided by The Rev. Lisa G. Fishbeck, Nathaniel part of who we are as a watching TV in his home, spans denominations. Of-
“Pee Wee” Lee sits outside his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., on May people of faith,” said the growing tomatoes and fish- ten the tiny homes projects
23, 2022. (The Rev. Lisa G. Fishbeck via AP) Rev. Lisa Fischbeck, for- ing in the nearby pond. build on related ministries
mer Episcopal vicar and “I thank the Lord because such as providing parking
By HOLLY MEYER homelessness in their com- the board chair of Pee this is mine and nobody space for people living in
Associated Press munities with a small solu- Wee Homes, an affordable can run me out,” Lee said, their cars. Beneficiaries are
(AP) - Churches across the tion: tiny homes. housing organization build- breaking out in laughter as generally welcome to at-
U.S. are tackling the big On vacant plots near their ing tiny abodes in Chapel he sat on the porch of his tend worship services but
question of how to address parking lots and steepled Hill, North Carolina. little white house. not required to do so.q