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Green Cards Revoked
The Trump administration revoked the green cards of three Iranian nationals with alleged ties to the Iranian regime.
“Three Iranian nationals with alleged links to Tehran’s political body have had their green cards revoked and are now in ICE custody”
Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and are now in ICE custody pending removal.
The family had been living in Los Angeles before their arrest.
Hashemi entered the US in 2014 on an F-1 student visa and obtained green cards in 2016 during the Obama administration.
The move follows a similar action last week involving relatives of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.
Hostage Crisis Legacy
The State Department referred to Hashemi's mother as Screaming Mary, notorious for her role in the Iran hostage crisis.
She crafted propaganda falsely showing the humane treatment of the hostages.
The hostages were held in solitary confinement, blindfolded and starved, and subjected to physical and psychological terror.
Ebtekar later became the country's environmental head twice and served as a vice president from 2017 to 2021.
The family was granted lawful permanent resident status via the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program in 2016.
Political and Diplomatic Context
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
“Washington DC and Tehran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 7”
Washington DC and Tehran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 7.
Vice President JD Vance was dispatched to broker peace talks in Islamabad.
Iranian leadership said they would not participate until Israel agrees to stop bombing Lebanon.
The peace talks came at the six-week mark for Operation Epic Fury.