U.S. revokes residency status of three Iranian nationals and moves to deport them
The Facts
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States terminated the lawful permanent resident status of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi and their son.
- Federal agents arrested Hashemi, Tahmasebi and their son earlier this week, and they are in ICE custody pending removal or deportation proceedings.
- U.S. officials identified Seyed Eissa Hashemi as the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar.
- Masoumeh Ebtekar was a spokeswoman for the militants who took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
- The State Department said the action was based on alleged ties to figures associated with Iran's regime.
- The State Department statement did not publicly accuse the three arrested family members of specific unlawful or harmful acts.
- The move follows earlier Trump administration action against other Iranian nationals in the United States who were described as relatives of prominent Iranian figures, including Qasem Soleimani.
Context
Who are the three people the U.S. is trying to deport?
The State Department identified them as Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi and their son. Officials said all three had their lawful permanent resident status revoked and were placed in ICE custody pending removal proceedings Anadolu Ajansı,NYT.
Why did this case draw national attention?
Officials said Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, who became internationally known as a spokeswoman for the militants involved in the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. That family connection made the case part of a wider Trump administration focus on relatives of prominent Iranian figures living in the United States NYT,Hill,Los Angeles Times.
Did the government allege the family committed a specific crime?
The public State Department statement cited alleged ties to Iran's regime, but reporting says it did not accuse the three of specific unlawful or harmful acts Anadolu Ajansı,NYT.
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