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    This Photo Series Shuts Down The Myth Of The Deserving Immigrant

    "[This] is a call to action. A claim of what is ours."

    Meet Maria Rohani and Sameen Ahmadnia. They're both 26-year-old Iranian-Americans concerned about President Trump's recent executive order banning refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.

    "The order, or 'Muslim Ban' — phrasing used by Trump during his own Presidential campaign — is unfounded, illegal, unconstitutional, and discriminatory," Rohani wrote on Feministing. "But worst of all, it is personally devastating to the individuals it impacts, to their families, friends, and communities."

    With the help of photographers on both coasts, the two activists decided to launch the photo series #BanThis, an initiative that tells the stories of immigrants who feel directly impacted by the current political climate.

    "We wanted to work against the myth of the 'deserving' immigrant or refugee," says Rohani.

    They spoke to Jill, 28, a writer whose background is Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Belgian, and Cuban.

    The pair also met with Sammy, 27, who works at Twitter as a Client Partner and has a Sudanese background.

    And heard from Ilaha, a 37-year-old humanitarian with Afghani roots.

    They also talked to Austin, 29, a senior analyst for whom one half of his family hails from Germany.

    And chatted with Sidra, 25, an environmental planner from Saudi Arabia.

    As for Rohani and Ahmadnia, they are respectively a social movements strategist and an asylum law attorney, with Iranian origins.

    Maria knows her community wouldn't be the same without her quirky family that's "always willing to share a cup of coffee and a little bit of Persian poetry with you."

    While Sameen continues to treat those around her to dance moves "that rival Carlton's from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

    To see more photos from #BanThis, or to submit your own, visit their website here.