Bill Overview
Title: REGIME Act of 2022
Description: The bill requires the Department of State to conduct a review of certain Iranian officials and government employees, as well as their immediate family members, who currently have visas or who have applied for visas. If such individuals are determined to be ineligible for entry into the United States under specified laws, the State Department must revoke their visas.
Sponsors: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Target Audience
Population: Iranian officials, government employees, and their immediate family members with visas or visa applications to the U.S.
Estimated Size: 100
- The bill targets Iranian officials and government employees, as well as their immediate family members, who have visas or have applied for U.S. visas.
- Currently, there are approximately 83 million people living in Iran, but the subset affected includes only those connected to the government.
- Considering the size of the Iranian government and typical numbers of family members, the target population globally would be significantly smaller than the total population of Iran.
- Immediate family members of officials and government employees could include spouses, children, and possibly parents, increasing the impacted number.
Reasoning
- The REGIME Act of 2022 focuses on a specific population — Iranian officials, government employees, and their immediate family members who have or are applying for U.S. visas. The impact on the general U.S. population is minimal due to the highly specific target group.
- The policy is structured around visa revocations, meaning it will mainly impact individuals in the U.S. on non-immigrant or immigrant visas who are connected to the Iranian government. The financial cost to enforce this policy seems feasible within the $5,000,000 budget if we consider administrative and legal review costs per case.
- Given a global target of 5,000 individuals, the number of those in the U.S. is likely a fraction, estimated around 100, primarily centered in areas with significant Iranian-American populations. These individuals’ wellbeing will be directly impacted if they lose their visas.
Simulated Interviews
University Professor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems rather targeted and won't affect many people, but it could strain U.S.-Iran relations further.
- I worry about colleagues and students who might have family caught up in unnecessary complications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Financial Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's unfair to target officials' families, many who have no involvement in government activities.
- It might create anxiety for those with mixed nationalities.
- As a binational, I feel the pressure this adds to the U.S.-Iran relationship.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Medical Resident (Houston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried because my parents might be affected. Our plans could face disruptions if their visas are rejected or revoked.
- The policy is very specific and could create unnecessary tension.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've heard discussions of this policy at work but not sure how directly it impacts me since my visa isn't political.
- Seems like it won't have widespread impact beyond the specific people it's targeting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Restaurant Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy feels unnecessarily punitive towards families who have no direct involvement in policy or governmental decisions.
- It definitely causes anxiety among the Iranian community here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a policy perspective, this is a narrow approach that could trigger diplomatic backlash.
- I do notice the nervousness it creates among friends with direct ties to Iran.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Real Estate Agent (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our travel plans to the U.S. might be halted completely if the policy impacts our visas.
- There's definite concern for families like mine who have members involved in state companies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Dentist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm unsure how this might affect my children's study plans here in the U.S.
- The measure seems to paint Iranian officials and family with a broad brush, which isn't fair.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Entrepreneur (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear heightened scrutiny in my travels and business dealings because of this policy.
- It feels like a burden even without direct impact on me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- At my age, I'm more concerned for my grandchildren and how this affects their perception of identity.
- It's a small policy but feels like a big weight on Iranians in the diaspora.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The main costs revolve around processing and logistics rather than material resources.
- Political and diplomatic considerations are crucial, as revocations could affect U.S.-Iran relations.
- The policy could serve as a deterrence against unwanted influence from foreign officials.