Artists Impacted By Trump's Immigration Plan Often Blacklisted In Own Countries

Shahrzad Changalvaee and her partner, Iman Raad, in a performance at Foote School, New Haven, Connecticut, in 2016. Photo Judy Sirota Rosenthal, courtesy the artist.

Artists born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are stunned by US President Donald Trump's executive order halting entry to the US by natives of these seven majority-Muslim Middle Eastern and African nations.

"About half of the visas given in these countries were given to Iranians last year," according to the Washington Post. Several artists spoke to ArtNet News.

The irony of the situation for these artists is that many are banned and blacklisted in their own countries for opposition to repressive governments. 

Nicky Nodjoumi, an Iranian artist living in New York since 1961, holds a green card, which grants him the status of lawful permanent resident. “You come to a new country for freedom and now they want to ban you,” said Nodjoumi, who is blacklisted in his own country after his own activism against oppressive regimes there, he explained in a phone call. “It’s scary and at the same time ironic, and we can only ask, What the hell is going on?”

Nicky Nodjoumi. Courtesy the artist.