In brief
Pouria Amirshahi, a member of the Green party in France, has voiced disappointment after being denied a U.S. visa intended for meetings with progressive lawmakers and commentators about President Trump's impact.
Article text: Pouria Amirshahi, a French member of Parliament, is appealing to American authorities to reconsider their recent decision that barred him from entering the United States. The leftist lawmaker stated that his visa application was rejected as he planned to visit Washington D.C., New York, and Boston for discussions on the political climate influenced by President Trump. His proposed trip was to be the inaugural outing for La Digue, a new coalition he formed with other leftist and centrist lawmakers aimed at countering the rise of neo-fascism within liberal democracies. Speaking at a press conference in the French National Assembly, Amirshahi elaborated on his intentions: he hoped to engage with U.S. lawmakers, activists, professors, and journalists to grasp the current societal and political changes since Trump's administration began. Among those he planned to meet were Senator Peter Welch from Vermont and Representative Maxine Dexter from Oregon. However, Amirshahi revealed that he was informed of the visa denial earlier this week, describing the response as an abrupt closing of doors. He criticized the decision, labeling it “hostile and unfriendly.” Following the news conference, a member of Amirshahi's team noted that the U.S. embassy was reviewing the reasons behind the visa denial.
