U.S. Bill Named for Iranian Deported to Panama Aims to Shield Asylum Seekers

Four months after the Trump administration deported Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian Christian convert, to Panama before she could seek asylum for fear of religious persecution, she is still living in limbo.

A 90-day humanitarian visa granted by the Panamanian government will run out in two weeks. Every day, she says, she wonders which country will provide her permanent refuge. Iran considers converting from Islam to any other religion a crime punishable by death.

On Tuesday, new U.S. legislation inspired by Ms. Ghasemzadeh will be introduced in Congress by Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian-American Democratic lawmaker from Arizona. Called the Artemis Act, the bill seeks to prohibit the expedited removal of individuals fleeing countries that the State Department says persecute religious minorities — and ensure they have the chance to claim asylum in a U.S. immigration court.

Though Ms. Ansari says she expects widespread support from Democrats and has reached out to Republican in hopes of generating bipartisan support, experts acknowledge that the bill has little chance of passing given that Republicans hold the majority of votes in the chamber.

Mr. Trump campaigned on the promise to reverse the flow of migrants crossing the southern border and to carry out widespread deportations. Republican lawmakers would not be inclined to endorse any move to restrict Mr. Trump’s immigration policy.

Still, the symbolism is significant for Ms. Ghasemzadeh and 10 other Iranian Christians deported to Panama in February and eventually released from a detention camp on the outskirts of the Darién jungle. They said in interviews on Monday that they feel “seen and heard” at the highest level of American politics, though still trapped in Panama. Christian advocacy groups have taken up their cause.