Reps. Min and Ansari Demand Law School Admission Council Reverse Improper Discrimination Against Iranian Americans

Washington, DC. — Today, U.S. Congressional Representatives Dave Min (CA-47) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) sent a letter to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) President and CEO Sudha Setty demanding that LSAC immediately review and restore accounts improperly restricted based on Iranian nationality or heritage. The reported restrictions have affected U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other individuals residing in the United States during a crucial point in the law school admissions cycle. 

The lawmakers’ letter follows reports that LSAC broadly suspended accounts belonging to individuals of Iranian nationality or heritage after the Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended Iran General License G under its Iran Sanctions program. The members emphasized that federal sanctions rules restrict certain services provided to Iran, the Government of Iran, or persons in Iran, but do not make Iranian nationality alone a basis for prohibiting services. 

“LSAC's broad suspension of the accounts of all individuals of Iranian nationality or heritage regardless of residence is an egregious overcompliance that has unfairly targeted impacted American citizens and residents based on national origin alone,” the lawmakers wrote. “These suspensions occurred at a particularly consequential point in the admissions cycle and created uncertainty regarding candidates' ability to sit for scheduled examinations, access their accounts and application materials, and meet admissions deadlines. For candidates with an imminent examination or application deadline, restoring an account several days later may not fully remedy the resulting harm,” the lawmakers continued. 

 “At its core, this is about equal access to legal education and the danger of treating Iranian nationality as a proxy for sanctions risk. Institutions should determine whether a restriction is legally required based on each person’s individual circumstances, not impose sweeping restrictions and place the burden on applicants to prove that the restrictions should have never applied to them. IABA was privileged to share its legal analysis of this matter and the experiences of affected community members with the Congressmembers' offices. We are grateful to Congresswoman Ansari and Congressman Min for bringing attention to this injustice and advocating for the students affected.” said Payam Saljoughian, President of the Iranian American Bar Association

Read the letter here.

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