Dallas attorney Mora Namdar confirmed as top U.S. consular official

After Senate confirmation this week, a Dallas attorney and business owner will oversee visas and passports at the State Department. The officially appointed Assistant Secretary of State for consular affairs is Mora Namdar. 

Namdar will manage the US. In addition to managing visa policy and passport issuance, she will also assist Americans living abroad. As the US prepares for a large inflow of international visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the job is vital to immigration enforcement and national security.

After serving as acting director of the Bureau of Consular Affairs during President Donald Trump's first term, Namdar has returned to the department permanently. 

The Dallas News reports that her confirmation corresponds with the administration's national security-focused visa policy. Namdar stressed in her Senate confirmation testimony that consular personnel must have broad discretion to deny or revoke visas in order to uphold U.S. policy. policy. 

According to a Dallas News release, she promised to respond to requests with honesty, attentiveness, and a spirit of shared service to the American people. 

The Bureau of Consular Affairs determines who can enter the US and guides the government's reaction to American emergencies abroad. The office manages consular operations at embassies and consulates abroad. Namdar worked in prominent foreign policy positions, notably at the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, where she specialized in Middle East and North Africa policy. She was vice president of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, per the State Department. Namdar worked in the private sector after serving in the government.

As per reports, Namdar opened a legal business and BAM, a beauty bar franchise in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano. She has legal and master's degrees in international affairs from American University, undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University, and further studies at Oxford University.

Texas native and Farsi speaker Namdar is the daughter of Iranian immigrants. Her plan relies on her national security and human rights experience, according to the State Department. Her hiring coincides with North Texas's preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Namdar has said she wants to make the tournament “the greatest sporting event in history,” emphasizing border security and travel screening at international events.

State Department spokeswoman Tommy Pigott told Dallas News, “Americans can be proud that patriotic public servants like her are stepping forward to serve our country and advance our national interests."

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