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NBC News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Two Iranian students released after ICE arrested them in a ‘ruse,' their lawyers said
Two married Iranian students at Louisiana State University were released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this week after they were arrested in June in what their attorneys describe as a 'ruse' orchestrated by government agents. Attorneys for Pouria Pourhosseinhendabad and Parisa Firouzabadi had challenged their detentions and accused the government of violating the law and immigration procedures. The American Civil Liberties Union's Louisiana chapter announced their release Wednesday. The two graduate students, who were detained for nearly a month, were 'lured' out of their home by ICE agents who told them that they were investigating a hit-and-run that the couple had previously reported, court documents said. They were then arrested. ICE did not provide or present a warrant for their arrest, their attorneys said in court documents. Several days later, ICE alleged that Firouzabadi was deportable due to a 2023 visa revocation, the documents said. Pourhosseinhendabad is on an active F-1 student visa and is currently still enrolled at the school, according to the ACLU. Nora Ahmed, the legal director for the ACLU of Louisiana, a group that is helping to represent the couple, said in a statement that their release represented a 'powerful affirmation of immigrants' rights.' 'Pouria and Parisa should never have been detained and we're relieved they're finally free,' Ahmed said in a statement. ICE did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. A federal magistrate judge recommended the release of Pourhosseinhendabad on Monday, writing that the student 'has established that there is a grave risk he will suffer irreparable harm.' After attorneys filed a petition for the release of Firouzabadi the following day, the government agreed to release the couple. 'Pouria and Parisa should never have been detained and we're relieved they're finally free,' Ahmed said in the statement. 'However, this case also underscores that when the government's power is allowed to go unchecked, entire communities are left vulnerable to sweeping abuses of power.' On June 22, police officers knocked on the couple's apartment door, claiming to investigate a hit-and-run accident that the couple had reported weeks earlier, according to Firouzabadi's habeas petition. The officers asked to see their vehicle to assess damage, prompting the couple to lead them to the parking lot, the petition said. Federal agents believed to be employed by ICE then handcuffed and arrested the couple, according to court documents. 'The way that state police presented themselves to Parisa — as though they were investigating the hit-and-run of which Parisa had been a victim weeks prior — constitutes a ruse because it was an official deception that was used to arrest and detain her,' the petition said. Days after Firouzabadi was arrested, a charging document was uploaded to the immigration court electronic record, the petition said. In it, ICE alleged that she had failed to maintain her legal status because of a visa revocation in 2023 due to violating laws related to sabotage or espionage, court documents said. Ten days after that filing, ICE rescinded the accusation tied to sabotage and espionage but continued to allege that she was deportable, the petition said. It is unclear what prompted the accusation and why it was rescinded. Attorneys did not immediately respond to questions around Firouzabadi's visa revocation, but court documents say that no reasons were ever provided to her. However, her attorneys argued that Firouzabadi still has legal status because she is actively enrolled, attending classes and working at Louisiana State University, and that the revocation only prevents her from leaving and attempting to return to the country. Pourhosseinhendabad, who was held at a separate facility, is in full compliance with his visa requirements, his attorneys said. 'Arresting and detaining him without any justification under the law violates due process, equal protection, the Fourth Amendment, and established immigration procedures,' an ACLU press release on the incident said. The couple's attorneys point out in court documents that their arrest coincides with the U.S. entrance into the conflict between Israel and Iran. The two were arrested just hours after the military attacked three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. The conflict ended in a ceasefire days later. Given the timing, their counsel argued the unlawful arrests were the result of discrimination. 'This is the same kind of discrimination that occurred with the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s, which we committed never to repeat,' Ahmed said in the release. 'And yet, we were right here on June 22, the day after the United States bombed Iran — indiscriminately rounding up Iranians on U.S. soil.'
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why over 500,000 Afghans were forced out of Iran in just 16 days and what's next?
The dusty border town of Islam Qala in western Afghanistan has become a holding pen for the displaced, families huddled under tarpaulins, children too young to understand why their lives have been upended, and elderly men with sunburnt faces staring silently into the horizon. The summer heat here touches 40°C (104°F), but the suffering runs far deeper than the temperature gauge. In just over two weeks since Iran's conflict with Israel came to an uneasy halt, more than half a million Afghans have crossed into Afghanistan from Iran, a staggering human tide that the UN has called one of the largest forced movements of people in recent years. Behind this exodus lies a brutal combination of politics, suspicion, and long-standing tension. What Iran says is a national security move, critics call a purge of one of the region's most vulnerable communities. On June 24, just days after the fighting ended, Tehran's mass deportations accelerated. By July 9, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 508,426 Afghans crossing the border back into their homeland. Some 51,000 were forced out in one day alone, a crescendo ahead of a July 7 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave. Among them was Bashir, a young man in his twenties who had been living and working in Tehran. 'The police caught me in the street,' he told reporters in Islam Qala, CNN reported. Bashir added, 'They took 10 million tomans ($200) from me, sent me to a detention centre, and forced me to pay another 2 million ($50). They didn't give us food or water. They beat us.' He said around 200 people were being held in that facility, detained without basic necessities and treated with abuse. For many, these last days in Iran were marked not by quiet exits but by extortion and violence. Parisa, just 11 years old, stood beside her parents after arriving back in Afghanistan. 'We lived in Iran for six years. I was told I couldn't go to school anymore,' she said. 'Even though we had a legal census document, they said we had to leave immediately.' Her education now hangs in limbo — especially in Taliban-run Afghanistan, where girls' schooling is severely restricted, the report by CNN added. Iran had long hinted at its desire to reduce the number of undocumented Afghans, many of whom perform low-wage, grueling labour across cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad. But the new wave of expulsions followed a chilling narrative twist: unproven claims that Afghan nationals spied for Israel during the recent conflict. Though no substantial evidence has been presented, Iranian state media has broadcast footage of a supposed Afghan 'spy' admitting to passing locations to a handler based in Germany in exchange for $2,000. The man's identity and the claims remain unverifiable, but they've been enough to ignite public suspicion and fuel what rights groups say is a campaign of collective punishment. 'We are witnessing discrimination, dehumanising language, and incitement to violence,' the CNN report quoted Richard Bennett, the UN's special rapporteur to Afghanistan as saying, warning of growing hostility towards Afghans and other minorities in Iranian media, . Tehran has defended the removals. 'We've always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority,' government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on July 1. 'Naturally, illegal nationals must return.' The deportations come at enormous human cost. Mihyung Park, IOM's mission chief, as per a report by CNN, said that half of all Afghan returnees this year crossed the border since June 1, with 250,000 arriving in one week of July alone. 'There are thousands under the sun. It's quite dire,' Park told CNN. 'Last week alone, there were around 400 unaccompanied, separated children, that is a lot.' Video footage from the border shows long lines of people waiting to be processed, faces flushed from heat, hands shielding infants from the sun. Some are bused in and marched off to unknown locations. Others speak of police raids in Iranian cities, with migrants hunted across open fields or yanked from construction sites. In one segment aired by Iranian television, a journalist confronts an employer: 'Why did you hire the Afghan? It's against the law.' The man replies, 'I know! But I had to pay him before he left.' Many deportees had spent years in Iran, carving out precarious but meaningful lives. Some had sent their children to school, started small businesses, and blended into communities despite lacking formal papers. That life, in the end, proved fragile — easily erased by a policy shift and a wave of fear. Iran's recent expulsions reflect not just the fallout of a regional war, but a growing intolerance toward those deemed foreign, illegal, or disposable. For the hundreds of thousands pushed into the deserts of western Afghanistan, survival has once again become the only goal. And with temperatures rising and aid resources stretched thin, the journey ahead looks just as perilous as the one behind.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
The Ayatollah's gamble: Fight, fold, or fall - How far will Iran go against Israel?
Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with teachers, in Tehran, Iran. (File photo) Iran unleashed a wave of over 100 missiles on Israeli cities early Monday, killing five and injuring more than 100 - striking Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Petah Tikva. The attack followed Israel's surprise air campaign that bombarded Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure, killing at least 224 people - many of them civilians - and decimating the upper ranks of the Revolutionary Guard. The tit-for-tat marks the fourth straight day of open warfare between the regional archrivals and shows no signs of de-escalation. Why it matters This is no longer a proxy conflict. Israel has directly struck inside Iran, and Iran has retaliated with direct missile fire on Israeli population centers. The scale, speed, and ferocity of the strikes mark a dangerous new phase with no clear off-ramp - and Iran's regime is facing pressure on all fronts: militarily, economically, diplomatically and domestically. It's the worst direct confrontation between Iran and Israel in history. The war could spiral into a broader Middle East conflagration, upend global oil markets, and collapse already-stalled nuclear diplomacy. Energy implications: Crude oil surged 13% on Friday - the biggest intraday gain since Russia invaded Ukraine. While oil briefly hit $78 per barrel, experts warn prices could soar past $100 if Iran disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil flows. The big picture Iran now faces a triad of perilous choices Escalate - risking full-scale war with Israel and possible US involvement. Contain the conflict - aiming for limited, sustained strikes while avoiding American red lines. Negotiate - possibly with US mediation - to halt the fighting and restore nuclear talks, though trust is virtually nonexistent. Each carries enormous risks for Iran's clerical leadership. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must weigh strategic retaliation against the very real prospect of regime collapse or American firepower. Between the lines The Israeli strikes have been more devastating and targeted than many in Tehran expected. Israel claims it has killed high-ranking commanders and destroyed key uranium enrichment facilities. The shock of the attacks has set off panic among Tehran residents, particularly in the north, where middle-class Iranians are fleeing to rural areas or Caspian towns. 'We just don't know where to go or what to do,'' said Parisa, a gym owner in northern Tehran. 'The highways are locked. People are saying something bad is going to happen in Tehran tonight.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Anvisa aprova solução para ajudar a reduzir gordura visceral da barriga em 7 dias! Você Mais Saudável Hoje Saiba Mais Undo Zoom in As per a Bloomberg report, Iran's domestic situation is fragile: Its economy is ravaged by years of sanctions. Inflation hovers around 40%. Blackouts and gas shortages are becoming the norm. And the rial continues to plummet, stoking anger in a young, restless population. Just days before the Israeli strikes, anti-government protests were already flaring over water shortages and job losses. The ultimate test for Khamenei Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader and political survivor for over three decades, is now confronting what may be the defining crisis of his rule. In a sign of how far Israel was willing to push, a US official told the Associated Press that President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei. Since taking power in 1989 after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei has survived sanctions, internal unrest, and international isolation. But the current conflict with Israel is different: it directly challenges not only the regional influence he has carefully built but also the internal balance of power in Tehran. The stakes are now existential. At 86, Khamenei's advanced age has already fueled speculation about succession, a process clouded by secrecy and rival factions within the regime. 'Khamenei is at the twilight of his rule, at the age 86, and already much of the daily command of the regime is not up to him but to various factions who are vying for the future,' said Arash Azizi, senior fellow at Boston University. 'This process was already underway and the current war only accelerates it,' he told AFP. And with Israel not ruling out future attempts on his life, the supreme leader's next moves will shape not just Iran's response, but the future of the system he's spent a lifetime defending. What they're saying 'Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video. 'Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you.' Trump said Sunday: 'We will have PEACE, soon… But sometimes they have to fight it out.' 'This is for the sake of our children and grandchildren,' said Yoram Suki, whose apartment was destroyed in Petah Tikva. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi: 'Once these Israeli] attacks come to a stop, we will naturally reciprocate.' Iran has thousands of ballistic missiles so I think Iranian leaders will use most of those missiles and kill a few thousand of Americans before they engage in a surrender. Iran's hope was a peaceful resolution. The Americans didn't want to have it, they wanted war and I think that's what they're going to get. Fouad Izadi, an academic at Tehran University , told Bloomberg What to watch Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it employed a 'new method' in Monday's missile barrage that overwhelmed Israeli air defenses, including the Iron Dome, allowing strikes to penetrate deeper than before. The damage was visible: residential buildings collapsed, fires erupted, and even the US Embassy in Tel Aviv sustained minor damage. If Iran escalates further - for example, by activating Hezbollah in Lebanon or shutting the Strait of Hormuz - it could trigger US military involvement, upending Trump's desire to stay out. A senior US official confirmed that Trump was aware of the Israeli strike plan in advance but refused to participate, preferring to maintain the ability to mediate a ceasefire. What's next Israel is pushing hard to rally Western support to destroy Iran's nuclear capacity. But analysts say Israel would need US military assistance to breach Iran's deepest, most protected sites. The US role remains murky: President Donald Trump has both urged de-escalation and praised Israel's offensive. He's also confirmed vetoing an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, calling it a red line. Iran's Gulf-Arab neighbors-countries it's reconnected with over the past two years-are alarmed by Israel's moves and want no part in the conflict, say senior regional officials. While Iran has the missile capability to hit oil facilities and infrastructure across the region, it's not likely to risk damaging those newly rebuilt ties. It understands that these neighbors fear getting caught in the crossfire and are pressing Trump to cool things down. The G7 summit in Canada is now dominated by discussions on how to prevent further escalation. 'This issue will be very high on the agenda,' said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Reality check While Iran can likely sustain limited strikes on Israel for weeks, it is constrained. It cannot match Israel's precision airpower or resupply at the pace that Israel can - especially with US backing. A prolonged war would deepen its economic pain, risk regime legitimacy, and possibly spur a new wave of protests.
