The United States has revoked the green cards of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son, detaining them as they face deportation, according to the State Department. Hashemi, known as “Screaming Mary,” is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a former Iranian politician and the spokesperson during the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. The family, who came to the U.S. on a visa in 2014 and gained lawful permanent resident status through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program in 2016, have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This action follows a broader trend of deportations involving families connected to Iranian figures, including the niece of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. The move has been framed by officials as part of efforts to prevent anti-American elements from residing in the U.S.
Why It Matters
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly regarding individuals with ties to the Iranian regime. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which has been the subject of past political debate, was designed to promote diversity in immigration but faced criticism during the Trump administration following high-profile terrorist incidents. The revocation of the Hashemi family’s status reflects a broader U.S. policy aimed at limiting the presence of individuals perceived as threats to national security, especially those linked to Iran’s political landscape. The actions against these families underscore the impact of U.S. immigration policy on individuals with historical or familial ties to controversial regimes.
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