Yu Darvish’s father banned from United States (UPDATE)

Yu Darvish’s father, Farsad, would not be able to travel to the United States to see his son pitch under the executive order signed last night, according to Evan Grant.

Grant notes that, per the Wall Street Journal, the 90 day ban on entry into the United States for non-U.S.-citizens who were born in one of those seven countries, but who have dual citizenship and are traveling under the passport of another country. The WSJ’s example is that someone born in Iraq and traveling under a United Kingdom passport could not enter the U.S.

Yu’s father was born in Iran and is, per Evan, a dual citizen of both Iran and Japan. Thus, even though he has come to the United States numerous times since Darvish became a Ranger, Farsad is not currently allowed in the U.S., and would not be able to come to the country to watch his son.

Evan says that it is believed Yu originally had dual Iranian and Japanese citizenship, but gave up his Iranian citizenship under a Japanese law that requires folks with dual citizenship to choose one or the other by age 22.

If this is true, I guess we should be glad Yu chose Japanese citizenship — otherwise, the Rangers would be looking for another starting pitcher right now.

UPDATE — A federal judge in New York has issued an injunction staying enforcement of the ban, so for now, once again, Yu’s dad can come to the U.S.

UPDATE II -- Well, the injunction just applies to those who were traveling to the U.S. already or arrived when the order was being signed, so Yu’s dad is back in limbo.