Latest news with #RibvarKarimi
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Pregnant Alabama Woman Says She And Her Trump-Supporting Husband Were "Blindsided" When ICE Detained Him
An Alabama woman married to an Iranian immigrant says her family regrets supporting President Donald Trump and his aggressive immigration policies after ICE detained her husband over the weekend as part of a recent round-up of Iranian nationals. 'We believed in his [Trump's] immigration policies and were completely blindsided and truly believed that only criminals were being detained,' Morgan Gardner told Newsweek. Gardner's husband, Ribvar Karimi, was one of 11 Iranian nationals arrested Sunday and taken into the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the arrests reflect its 'commitment to keeping known and suspected terrorists out of American communities.' DHS has painted Karimi as a threat to national security, saying he served as a sniper in the Iranian army from 2018 to 2021 and had an Islamic Republic of Iran army identification card. Military service is compulsory in Iran for all men aged 18–49. Draft evaders face prosecution and may lose their social benefits and civil rights, including employment, education, and the ability to leave the country. Deserters face imprisonment. 'We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don't wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump's mandate to secure the homeland,' DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Related: "He Torched His Entire Reputation For Nothing": 27 Of The Best Political Tweets From This Messy, Messy Week Gardner told CBS affiliate WIAT that her husband 'never fought any American forces or our allies,' and said 'he actually fought ISIS himself and was captured at one point' during his service. According to the couple's wedding website, they first met online playing the video game Call of Duty: Mobile. 'He brought happiness back to me, and taught me what it is like to be loved correctly,' Gardner wrote on the site. 'He encouraged me, and still encourages me each and every day. He sees the best in me, and never has given up, despite how difficult I can be sometimes.' Gardner's cousin Cyndi Edwards wrote in a GoFundMe set up to offset legal fees that the couple spent years 'meeting in Turkey while navigating the complex immigration process.' 'Ribvar quickly became a beloved member of Morgan's rural Alabama community, supporting her family and friends, and caring for Morgan's father during a health crisis,' Edwards wrote. 'Most importantly, Ribvar helped Morgan find her self-worth and guided her toward a healthier, happier life.' Related: Jeff Bezos's Fiancée Lauren Sánchez Reacted To Criticism Of Her Inauguration Outfit DHS said Karimi entered the US legally in October 2024 under a K-1 marriage visa reserved for people engaged to American citizens. However, he never adjusted his status, which is a legal requirement, and not doing so can trigger a removal order. Gardner told WIAT that her attorney said previous administrations would not have let her husband be taken away and that he should have been protected because he is married to a US citizen. She added that she and Karimi put his green card application on hold after she found out she was pregnant and had pregnancy complications. 'I understand that they've got a job to do, immigration, but I just feel like he was specifically targeted because of what's going on where he's from, his home country,' Gardner told WIAT. Gardner is seven months pregnant, but remains hopeful that her husband will be with her when she gives birth. 'My heart is broken,' Gardner told the outlet. 'Our baby shower is going to be next weekend, and he's not going to be at home to go to that with me.' Giving birth alone is not Gardner's only fear. She told Newsweek that Karimi's family worries that if he were to be deported back to Iran, the government would kill him due to his open support for the US and opposition to the Iranian regime. 'My husband himself, even being from Iran, supported Trump, his immigration policies, and understood he was trying to protect the American people and was praying he helped free the Iranian people,' Gardner told Newsweek. While Morgan told the outlet she did not vote in the previous presidential election, her family has supported Trump in the past and now feels betrayed. 'Everyone feels like a fool and regrets the decision. I personally didn't vote in the last election, and neither did my parents. At this point, I believe there are bad people on the left and the right,' Gardner said. This article originally appeared in HuffPost. Also in In the News: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Also in In the News: People Are Roasting "MAGA Makeup" On TikTok, And It Might Be The Shadiest Thing I've Seen All Year Also in In the News: "This Administration Is F*cking Awful": 24 Tweets That Sum Up American Politics This Week
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This Iranian Immigrant Supported Trump's Immigration Policies — Then He Was Detained By ICE
An Alabama woman married to an Iranian immigrant says her family regrets supporting President Donald Trump and his aggressive immigration policies after ICE detained her husband over the weekend as part of a recent round-up of Iranian nationals. 'We believed in his [Trump's] immigration policies and were completely blindsided and truly believed that only criminals were being detained,' Morgan Gardner told Newsweek. Gardner's husband, Ribvar Karimi, was one of 11 Iranian nationals arrested Sunday and taken into the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the arrests reflect its 'commitment to keeping known and suspected terrorists out of American communities.' DHS has painted Karimi as a threat to national security, saying he served as a sniper in the Iranian army from 2018 to 2021 and had an Islamic Republic of Iran army identification card. Military service is compulsory in Iran for all men aged 18–49. Draft evaders face prosecution and may lose their social benefits and civil rights, including employment, education, and the ability to leave the country. Deserters face imprisonment. 'We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don't wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump's mandate to secure the homeland,' DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Related: Donald Trump Supporters Are Waking Up To The Reality Of Their Ballot Choices, And The Stories Are A Loooooot Gardner told CBS affiliate WIAT that her husband 'never fought any American forces or our allies,' and said 'he actually fought ISIS himself and was captured at one point' during his service. According to the couple's wedding website, they first met online playing the video game Call of Duty: Mobile. 'He brought happiness back to me, and taught me what it is like to be loved correctly,' Gardner wrote on the site. 'He encouraged me, and still encourages me each and every day. He sees the best in me, and never has given up, despite how difficult I can be sometimes.' Gardner's cousin Cyndi Edwards wrote in a GoFundMe set up to offset legal fees that the couple spent years 'meeting in Turkey while navigating the complex immigration process.' 'Ribvar quickly became a beloved member of Morgan's rural Alabama community, supporting her family and friends, and caring for Morgan's father during a health crisis,' Edwards wrote. 'Most importantly, Ribvar helped Morgan find her self-worth and guided her toward a healthier, happier life.' Related: Donald Trump And Tucker Carlson Are Feuding, And Today It Escalated Even More DHS said Karimi entered the US legally in October 2024 under a K-1 marriage visa reserved for people engaged to American citizens. However, he never adjusted his status, which is a legal requirement, and not doing so can trigger a removal order. Gardner told WIAT that her attorney said previous administrations would not have let her husband be taken away and that he should have been protected because he is married to a US citizen. She added that she and Karimi put his green card application on hold after she found out she was pregnant and had pregnancy complications. 'I understand that they've got a job to do, immigration, but I just feel like he was specifically targeted because of what's going on where he's from, his home country,' Gardner told WIAT. Gardner is seven months pregnant, but remains hopeful that her husband will be with her when she gives birth. 'My heart is broken,' Gardner told the outlet. 'Our baby shower is going to be next weekend, and he's not going to be at home to go to that with me.' Giving birth alone is not Gardner's only fear. She told Newsweek that Karimi's family worries that if he were to be deported back to Iran, the government would kill him due to his open support for the US and opposition to the Iranian regime. 'My husband himself, even being from Iran, supported Trump, his immigration policies, and understood he was trying to protect the American people and was praying he helped free the Iranian people,' Gardner told Newsweek. While Morgan told the outlet she did not vote in the previous presidential election, her family has supported Trump in the past and now feels betrayed. 'Everyone feels like a fool and regrets the decision. I personally didn't vote in the last election, and neither did my parents. At this point, I believe there are bad people on the left and the right,' Gardner said. This article originally appeared in HuffPost. Also in In the News: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Also in In the News: People Are Roasting "MAGA Makeup" On TikTok, And It Might Be The Shadiest Thing I've Seen All Year Also in In the News: Jeff Bezos's Fiancée Lauren Sánchez Reacted To Criticism Of Her Inauguration Outfit
Russia Today
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
US ramps up arrests of Iranians
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested 130 Iranian nationals over the past week, as Washington grows concerned about possible retaliation on American soil following last week's bombing campaign against Iran, Fox News reported. Less than a week ago, the US joined Israel's military campaign and struck three major nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic. Earlier this week, Tehran responded with a missile barrage targeting a US military base in Qatar, shortly before a ceasefire was announced. The White House has reportedly expressed concern about potential 'sleeper cells' being activated inside the US, Fox said on Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a bulletin warning of a 'heightened threat environment' shortly after the US strikes. Some of the arrested Iranians reportedly have criminal records, and at least one had recently served in Iran's military, according to ICE sources cited by the outlet. At least 670 Iranian nationals are currently in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings. According to DHS, former Iranian serviceman Ribvar Karimi immigrated to the US last year under a visa granted to foreigners engaged to American citizens. However, after marrying his partner, he failed to update his immigration status and was arrested in Alabama the day after the strikes on Iran. Karimi supported US President Donald Trump and his immigration policies, according to his pregnant wife, Morgan Karimi, who spoke to Newsweek on Wednesday. ICE Director Tom Homan said Trump's immigration stance is especially important 'now, during this Iran conflict.' Speaking on the Pod Force One podcast on Wednesday, he said the administration of former President Joe Biden 'created the biggest national security vulnerability I've ever seen.' On Monday, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries, despite earlier legal challenges to the policy.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Iranian sniper accused of being a sleeper agent
Playing Call of Duty lead to a love match Morgan Gardner never expected. When she started to play the online game in 2020, known as a violent first-person shooter contest, she didn't think she'd meet her future husband. Or that he'd be half a world away in Iran. But a friendship that was sparked online evolved into a romance that turned into a marriage between Gardner - a blonde, blue-eyed Alabama girl - and Ribvar Karimi, 26, an Iranian army sniper who moved to America to be with her - and was arrested this weekend as the US waged war with Tehran. 'Never did I think I was going to meet someone that way. Never did I think I would marry someone from another country,' Gardner told the Daily Mail. Now the newlyweds are being tested. Karimi was arrested by US immigration officials over the weekend along with 10 others as part of what ICE called their 'commitment to keeping known and suspected terrorists out of American communities'. His wife, who is seven months pregnant, believes he was unfairly targeted as American relations with Iran continue to fracture. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents came to their home about an hour outside Birmingham, claiming he was no longer legally in the country because he'd missed a deadline to file paperwork for his fiancé visa, which allowed him legal entry to the country in October. In their announcement of his arrest, ICE also pointed to Karimi's service as a sniper in the Iranian army from 2018 to 2021 - an ominous fact, given Trump's ongoing warnings about dormant terror sleeper cells who spring up to attack America at any given moment. Gardner, 30, insists that any suggestion her husband is dangerous is 'ridiculous'. 'I'm heartbroken. This man wears the American flag proudly on everything he owns. I know a lot of people have stereotypes about people from the Middle East, and that's unfortunately what happened to him.' She claimed that the first thing he bought when he got off the plane was an American Flag, and questioned why he would do that when it'd get him killed back in Iran. The couple disclosed his involvement in the army on his visa application and he underwent extra vetting because of his country of origin and military service, she said. 'We never hid it from them. We gave him his military card in his interview. We gave them the card when they showed up to our house on Sunday. We thought it was best to be honest because we have nothing to hide.' Gardner also stated that military service is mandatory in Iran, and that he's Kurdish, an ethnic group in Iran that is often persecuted by the Iranian government. Kurds tend to be Sunni Muslims in a mostly Shia country. 'He's not a terrorist, he's not part of a terrorist organization. He loves this country. He fought against ISIS. 'For goodness sake, his groom's cake at our wedding was an American flag with bullets on it that says, 'We the people.' He was so happy for small freedoms, like being able to wear shorts, because even men can't do that in Iran.' The pair found love online while he was still serving in the military. 'We were on the same team during one game. We liked playing together so much that we would always invite each other to play if we would see each other online,' the bride explained of their Call of Duty courtship. Online meetings turned into private messaging where the pair discussed the countries they were from, what they believed and joked constantly. 'We were always laughing. We got to know each other's hearts. Finally, I brought up that we should meet,' she added. After a year and a half of getting to know each other online, the pair planned a meeting in Turkey. 'We cried when we first met for the first time. There was no awkwardness. We said I love you, too.' 'Then it became about, how do I have you in my life?' 'He suggested I move to Iran, but then I said, 'Why can't you come to America and live with me?' He said, 'I'm from Iran. That will never happen.' The couple became engaged during their first three-week-long meeting in Istanbul. Gardner started looking into a fiancé visa for him, a process that took nearly three years to get approved. Eight more trips to Turkey, usually between 2-3 weeks each, followed along with the couple's family talking to try to understand and get comfortable with their whirlwind relationship. 'At first, my family wasn't so sure, but after they talked to him, they changed their minds. My father said after talking to him the first time that he knew it was okay,' she recounted. In October, Karimi's K-1 visa was approved and he was finally cleared to come to the US. The couple wed on January 18 and Gardner learned she was carrying their first child soon after they said 'I do.' Their honeymoon phase turned to worry after learning their pregnancy was high risk, however, the couple forged on, planning a baby shower for their son this coming weekend. Everything changed when ICE showed up at their door Sunday, claiming he was no longer in the US legally because he never filed additional paperwork proving that the marriage had actually happened. Gardner insists they were not give a deadline to submit the requirement. She has now hired an attorney who has confirmed that they were in compliance. 'He did confirm with me that there's no deadline on getting that paperwork completed. He was probably picked up because of everything that happened in Iran over the weekend. Gardner says she has had to use her life's savings to pay for lawyers fees, already spending $12,000 just to get him here, and expecting to pay at least $10,000 more in an attempt to get him released. She is asking for donations online to help pay for the expenses and travel to Louisiana to see her husband, where ICE is expected to transfer him in a few days. With the help of a lawyer, she is hoping he will be released on bond soon, but she's prepared to be alone during their baby shower this weekend. 'I'm not feeling that patriotic right now. I feel really disappointed as an American citizen,' she said. 'I feel like this is just a huge misunderstanding.'
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iranian Immigrant Detained By ICE Is a Trump Supporter, Wife Says
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The heavily pregnant wife of an ex-Iranian army soldier detained by federal immigration agents has told Newsweek her husband supports President Donald Trump and that he never tried to hide is military service. Ribvar Karimi was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 22 in Locust, Alabama, according to his family. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that Karimi served as a sniper in the Iranian Army from 2018 to 2021. He entered the U.S. on a K-1 fiancé visa in October 2024 but failed to adjust his immigration status as required, making him subject to removal, according to ICE. His wife Morgan Karimi told Newsweek in an exclusive interview: "My husband himself even being from Iran supported Trump, his immigration policies and understood he was trying to protect the American people and was praying he helped free the Iranian people. "He believed in him as well. My husband is from the Kurdish region of Iran, where the people are good people and desperate for freedom from the regime." Newsweek has contacted DHS for comment via email. The Context Iranian nationals have been thrust into the national spotlight in the U.S. following President Trump's recent strike on the country's nuclear facilities. The announcement regarding Iranian nationals allegedly in the U.S. illegally comes as concerns grow about potential terror cells that could be activated in response to the military action. Ribvar Karimi was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 22 in Locust, Alabama, according to his family. He is seen here with his wife Morgan on their wedding day. Ribvar Karimi was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 22 in Locust, Alabama, according to his family. He is seen here with his wife Morgan on their wedding day. Supplied What To Know Morgan Karimi, who met Ribvar in 2020 through the video game Call of Duty, stressed her husband's loyalty to the United States, saying his first purchase in the U.S. was an American flag. "This man wears the American flag proudly, and it's a shame that someone who is so proud to be here is at risk of being robbed of building the life he has dreamed of for so long. His groom's cake at our wedding was an American flag cake," Morgan said. Morgan, who is seven-and-a half-months pregnant with their first child, a boy, is expected to give birth on August 20th. The couple wed in January this year. Ribvar Karimi does not currently work and Morgan said they were focused on her complicated pregnancy, during which doctors detected fluid in the baby's lungs and heart. She says the health issues have delayed the couple's filing of Ribvar's adjustment of status, paperwork that they had ready to send in at the time of his arrest. "All of the paperwork had been completed and ready to file. We were ready to send it in and planned on doing so as soon as I gave birth," Morgan said. However, ICE showed up before they were given that opportunity. ICE first went to Morgan's parent's home and then showed up at hers. Morgan said they cooperated fully. "Ribvar and I were waiting on our front porch waiting for them to arrive. Once they got there we freely gave them everything we had," she said. "They told us the reason for his detainment was because we had not yet filed for his adjustment of status." Morgan said there is no official deadline for filing the adjustment of status under a K-1 visa, only that the couple must marry within 90 days, which they did. "This would be much easier to understand if there was a deadline issued for the adjustment of status, but there wasn't. We thought we had time. I am a rule follower and believe in doing the right thing. I never would've put my husband in this position especially this close to our child being born." She said that Ribvar's military service in Iran was never concealed from immigration authorities. His documents, including his military card, were submitted voluntarily to the authorities. "He did serve mandatory military service in Iran. He was made to do this, and 100 percent against the regime. In Iran, if you don't serve in the military then you can't get a passport to ever leave your country." His family fears that if he is deported, he will be detained or killed in Iran due to his open support for the U.S. and opposition to the Iranian regime. His brother, a political refugee, currently lives in France. Morgan, who said she did not vote in the 2024 election, told Newsweek her family has historically supported Trump. She now feels betrayed by the system. "I am just so heartbroken and desperate to get my husband home before I give birth," she said. "We believed in his [Trump's] immigration policies and were completely blindsided and truly believed that only criminals were being detained. "Everyone feels like a fool and regrets the decision. I personally didn't vote in the last election, and neither did my parents. At this point, I believe there are bad people on the left and the right." The administration announced on Tuesday that ICE agents apprehended 11 Iranian citizens over the weekend who were in the country unlawfully, including Ribvar. The cases come amid a backdrop of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran after Trump ordered strikes on suspected Iranian nuclear sites. It follows an escalation between Israel and Iran with sides exchanging airstrikes in the region. What People Are Saying The Department of Homeland Security said in a press release about the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals: "On June 22, ICE Atlanta arrested Ribvar Karimi in Locust, Alabama. Karimi reportedly served as an Iranian Army sniper from 2018 to 2021 and at the time of his arrest, in his possession, he had an Islamic Republic of Iran Army identification card. He entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa, which is reserved for aliens engaged to be married to American citizens, in October 2024 under the Biden administration. Karimi never adjusted his status—a legal requirement—and is removable from the United States. He's currently in ICE custody, where he'll remain pending removal proceedings. In the same release, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: "Under Secretary [Kristi] Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden's fraudulent parole programs or otherwise. We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don't wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump's mandate to secure the homeland." What Happens Next As Morgan prepares to give birth to their first child, she will continue fighting to bring her husband home before the baby arrives.
