Latest news with #USImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
After decades in US, Iranians arrested in Trump's deportation drive
Mandonna "Donna" Kashanian lived in the United States for 47 years, married a US citizen and raised their daughter. She was gardening in the yard of her New Orleans home when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers handcuffed and took her away, her family said. Kashanian arrived in 1978 on a student visa and applied for asylum, fearing retaliation for her father's support of the US-backed shah. She lost her bid, but she was allowed to remain with her husband and child if she checked in regularly with immigration officials, her husband and daughter said. She complied, once checking in from South Carolina during Hurricane Katrina. She is now being held at an immigration detention centre in Basile, Louisiana, while her family tries to get information. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Other Iranians are also getting arrested by immigration authorities after decades in the United States. The US Department of Homeland Security won't say how many people they've arrested, but US military strikes on Iran have fuelled fears that there is more to come. "Some level of vigilance, of course, makes sense, but what it seems like ICE has done is basically give out an order to round up as many Iranians as you can, whether or not they're linked to any threat and then arrest them and deport them, which is very concerning," said Ryan Costello, policy director of the National Iranian American Council, an advocacy group. Live Events Homeland Security did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Kashanian's case but have been touting arrests of Iranians. The department announced the arrests of at least 11 Iranians on immigration violations during the weekend of the US missile strikes. US Customs and Border Protection said, without elaborating, that it arrested seven Iranians at a Los Angeles-area address that "has been repeatedly used to harbour illegal entrants linked to terrorism." The department "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," spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said of the 11 arrests. She didn't offer any evidence of terrorist or extremist ties. Her comment on parole programmes referred to President Joe Biden's expanded legal pathways to entry, which his successor, Donald Trump, shut down. Russell Milne, Kashanian's husband, said his wife is not a threat. Her appeal for asylum was complicated because of "events in her early life," he explained. A court found an earlier marriage of hers to be fraudulent. But over four decades, Kashanian, 64, built a life in Louisiana. The couple met when she was bartending as a student in the late 1980s. They married and had a daughter. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, filmed Persian cooking tutorials on YouTube and was a grandmother figure to the children next door. The fear of deportation always hung over the family, Milne said, but he said his wife did everything that was being asked of her. "She's meeting her obligations," Milne said. "She's retirement age. She's not a threat. Who picks up a grandmother?" While Iranians have been crossing the border illegally for years, especially since 2021, they have faced little risk of being deported to their home countries due to severed diplomatic relations with the US. That seems to no longer be the case. The Trump administration has deported hundreds of people, including Iranians, to countries other than their own in an attempt to circumvent diplomatic hurdles with governments that won't take their people back. During Trump's second term, countries including El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama have taken back noncitizens from the US. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for several deportations to South Sudan, a war-ravaged country with which it has no ties, after the justices allowed deportations to countries other than those noncitizens came from. The US Border Patrol arrested Iranians 1,700 times at the Mexican border from October 2021 through November 2024, according to the most recent public data available. The Homeland Security Department reported that about 600 Iranians overstayed visas as business or exchange visitors, tourists and students in the 12-month period through September 2023, the most recent data reports. Iran was one of 12 countries subject to a US travel ban that took effect this month. Some fear ICE's growing deportation arrests will be another blow. In Oregon, an Iranian man was detained by immigration agents this past week while driving to the gym. He was picked up roughly two weeks before he was scheduled for a check-in at ICE offices in Portland, according to court documents filed by his attorney, Michael Purcell. The man, identified in court filings as S.F., has lived in the US for over 20 years, and his wife and two children are US citizens. S.F. applied for asylum in the US in the early 2000s, but his application was denied in 2002. His appeal failed but the government did not deport him and he continued to live in the country for decades, according to court documents. Due to "changed conditions" in Iran, S.F. would face "a vastly increased danger of persecution" if he were to be deported, Purcell wrote in his petition. "These circumstances relate to the recent bombing by the United States of Iranian nuclear facilities, thus creating a de facto state of war between the United States and Iran." S.F.'s long residency in the US, his conversion to Christianity and the fact that his wife and children are US citizens "sharply increase the possibility of his imprisonment in Iran, or torture or execution," he said. Similarly, Kashanian's daughter said she is worried what will happen to her mother. "She tried to do everything right," Kaitlynn Milne said.
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Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Iranians living in US for decades face arrests amid deportation crackdown
Mandonna Donna Kashanian lived in the United States for 47 years, married a US citizen and raised their daughter. She was gardening in the yard of her New Orleans home when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers handcuffed and took her away, her family said. Kashanian arrived in 1978 on a student visa and applied for asylum, fearing retaliation for her father's support of the US-backed shah. She lost her bid, but she was allowed to remain with her husband and child if she checked in regularly with immigration officials, her husband and daughter said. She complied, once checking in from South Carolina during Hurricane Katrina. She is now being held at an immigration detention centre in Basile, Louisiana, while her family tries to get information. Other Iranians are also getting arrested by immigration authorities after decades in the United States. The US Department of Homeland Security won't say how many people they've arrested, but US military strikes on Iran have fuelled fears that there is more to come. Some level of vigilance, of course, makes sense, but what it seems like ICE has done is basically give out an order to round up as many Iranians as you can, whether or not they're linked to any threat and then arrest them and deport them, which is very concerning, said Ryan Costello, policy director of the National Iranian American Council, an advocacy group. Homeland Security did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Kashanian's case but have been touting arrests of Iranians. The department announced the arrests of at least 11 Iranians on immigration violations during the weekend of the US missile strikes. US Customs and Border Protection said, without elaborating, that it arrested seven Iranians at a Los Angeles-area address that has been repeatedly used to harbour illegal entrants linked to terrorism." The department "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, spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said of the 11 arrests. She didn't offer any evidence of terrorist or extremist ties. Her comment on parole programmes referred to President Joe Biden's expanded legal pathways to entry, which his successor, Donald Trump, shut down. Russell Milne, Kashanian's husband, said his wife is not a threat. Her appeal for asylum was complicated because of events in her early life," he explained. A court found an earlier marriage of hers to be fraudulent. But over four decades, Kashanian, 64, built a life in Louisiana. The couple met when she was bartending as a student in the late 1980s. They married and had a daughter. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, filmed Persian cooking tutorials on YouTube and was a grandmother figure to the children next door. The fear of deportation always hung over the family, Milne said, but he said his wife did everything that was being asked of her. She's meeting her obligations," Milne said. "She's retirement age. She's not a threat. Who picks up a grandmother? While Iranians have been crossing the border illegally for years, especially since 2021, they have faced little risk of being deported to their home countries due to severed diplomatic relations with the US. That seems to no longer be the case. The Trump administration has deported hundreds of people, including Iranians, to countries other than their own in an attempt to circumvent diplomatic hurdles with governments that won't take their people back. During Trump's second term, countries including El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama have taken back noncitizens from the US. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for several deportations to South Sudan, a war-ravaged country with which it has no ties, after the justices allowed deportations to countries other than those noncitizens came from. The US Border Patrol arrested Iranians 1,700 times at the Mexican border from October 2021 through November 2024, according to the most recent public data available. The Homeland Security Department reported that about 600 Iranians overstayed visas as business or exchange visitors, tourists and students in the 12-month period through September 2023, the most recent data reports. Iran was one of 12 countries subject to a US travel ban that took effect this month. Some fear ICE's growing deportation arrests will be another blow. In Oregon, an Iranian man was detained by immigration agents this past week while driving to the gym. He was picked up roughly two weeks before he was scheduled for a check-in at ICE offices in Portland, according to court documents filed by his attorney, Michael Purcell. The man, identified in court filings as S.F., has lived in the US for over 20 years, and his wife and two children are US citizens. S.F. applied for asylum in the US in the early 2000s, but his application was denied in 2002. His appeal failed but the government did not deport him and he continued to live in the country for decades, according to court documents. Due to changed conditions in Iran, S.F. would face a vastly increased danger of persecution if he were to be deported, Purcell wrote in his petition. These circumstances relate to the recent bombing by the United States of Iranian nuclear facilities, thus creating a de facto state of war between the United States and Iran. S.F.'s long residency in the US, his conversion to Christianity and the fact that his wife and children are US citizens sharply increase the possibility of his imprisonment in Iran, or torture or execution, he said. Similarly, Kashanian's daughter said she is worried what will happen to her mother. She tried to do everything right, Kaitlynn Milne said.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Why Republicans Want Donald Trump To Revoke Zohran Mamdani's US Citizenship
Republicans are calling for the deportation of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who himself has vowed to expel the 'fascist' US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from the city. US President Donald Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan has responded by saying, "Good luck with that, federal law trumps him every day, every hour of every minute," Homan said. "We're going to be in New York City, matter of fact, because it's a sanctuary city and President Trump made it clear a week and a half ago - we're going to double down and triple down on sanctuary cities." "It's game on," Homan told Fox News, a day after Mamdani declared victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. Indian-origin candidate Mamdani and a Democratic socialist emerged with a commanding lead in the Democratic mayoral primary, over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who conceded late Tuesday. If elected, he would become the first Muslim mayor of New York City. However, Republicans allege that he is not American enough, as he has been a citizen for less than 10 years. "It's finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous," Trump wrote. "He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he's not very smart, he's got AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him. Yes, this is a big moment in the History of our Country!" he added. After Mamdani's victory, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, a staunch immigration hawk, said that it is the "clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration." "The entire Democrat party is lining up behind the diehard socialist who wants to end all immigration enforcement and abolish the prison system entirely," he added. Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee called him, "little Muhammad" and said he's "an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York." "He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalisation proceedings," he added. South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace posted a poll and asked if Mamdani should be denaturalised and deported. The process of denaturalisation or legally revoking someone's citizenship, is rare in the United States. It is only possible, if the individual obtained it through fraud or deliberate misrepresentation, if the person was associated with a group promoting violent overthrow of the US government within five years of naturalisation, or if the individual had committed serious crimes like terrorism or war crimes before becoming a citizen and failed to disclose them during the process. The US government would then need to prove it in court with strong evidence.
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Bishop Rojas on rise in ICE raids: ‘It is not of the Gospel of Jesus Christ'
After the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered Church properties in California, Bishop Rojas has issued a message calling for an end to tactics that cause 'a tremendous amount of fear, confusion, and anxiety.' Jun 28, 2025 Members in a prayer group holds hands, while vans transporting migrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) depart from the ICE Broadview Service Staging Area, in Broadview, Illinois By Kielce GussieOn June 23, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, issued a letter responding to recent reports of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entering Catholic churches. Moving onto Church property On June 20, diocesan officials stated ICE agents entered two Catholic parish properties in Montclair and Highland and detained multiple people in the parking lot of St. Adelaide Church in Highland, California. The director of communications for the Diocese of San Bernardino, John Andrews, said those detained did not work for the parish nor were they parishioners. However, he did report that one male parishioner was taken into custody at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair on June 20. We are with you Bishop Rojas, who heads the sixth-largest Catholic diocese in the United States, strongly condemned the ramping up of ICE activities. In his message to the Catholic community, he pointed out that 'authorities are now seizing brothers and sisters indiscriminately, without respect for their right to due process and their dignity as children of God.' He expressed his solidarity and closeness to the immigrant communities 'who are bearing the trauma and injustice of these tactics,' reminding them that 'we join you in carrying this very difficult cross.' The Bishop stressed his support for law enforcement doing their job to protect the community from violence criminals. At the same time, he emphasized that now ICE is detaining people as they leave their homes, offices, and other public settings. Pointing out that there is at least one recorded incident of ICE agents entering Church property, Bishop Rojas acknowledged that this creates fear, confusion, and anxiety. 'It is not of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—which guides us in all that we do.' A call for change The Bishop called on all political leaders to 'reconsider and cease these tactics immediately' and replace them 'in favor of an approach that respects human rights and human dignity.' These changes can help build 'a more lasting, comprehensive reform of our immigration system.' As many people voice their opposition to the current ICE tactics, Bishop Rojas challenged protestors to 'act without vulgarity, violence toward others, or destruction of property' to avoid a furthering of tension. Closing his message, the Bishop reflected on a statement Pope Francis once told him—that the Pontiff's greatest fear was division. 'It is painful to see such division amongst God's people at this moment,' Bishop Rojas continued, because this is contrary to God's plan for His children. In the context of the Jubilee Year of Hope, he urged everyone to share the hope of Christ to the world, as 'this hope is an antidote to the strife and suffering in our communities.'--Vatican News
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Zohran Mamdani 'needs to be deported': Republicans over NYC mayoral candidate's anti-ICE stance
Calls for the deportation of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani are growing louder among Republicans. While Mamdani himself has vowed to expel the 'fascist' US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out from the city properties. President Donald Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan warned against it, saying, 'Good luck with that.' New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (AFP) 'It's game on,' Homan told Fox News, a day after Mamdani declared victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens and a Democratic socialist, had made immigration reform a central part of his campaign. His platform promises to 'kick the fascist ICE out' and strengthen New York's sanctuary city protections by cutting off cooperation with federal agents, boosting legal aid, and safeguarding immigrants' data. 'Zohran Mamdani will fight Trump's attempts to gouge the working class and deliver a city where everyone can afford a dignified life,' reads a statement on his campaign website. Homan responded by saying Mamdani's proposals carry no legal weight. 'Good luck with that, federal law trumps him every day, every hour of every minute,' Homan said. 'We're going to be in New York City, matter of fact, because it's a sanctuary city and President Trump made it clear a week and a half ago — we're going to double down and triple down on sanctuary cities.' According to Homan, ICE operations will increase in New York due to concerns about public safety and national security. He said more agents would be deployed and worksite enforcement would be expanded 'tenfold.' Homan also compared New York to Florida, claiming that cooperation with ICE is smoother in Republican-led states. 'We don't have that problem in Florida, where the sheriffs work with us,' he said. 'So we're going to double up and triple up on New York.' He added, 'Not only are we going to send more agents to the neighborhood, we are going to increase worksite enforcement tenfold.' 'Little Muhammad' needs to be deported In the latest, Tennessee Republican Congressman Andy Ogles ignited a political firestorm this week after referring to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as 'little Muhammad' and calling for his deportation. 'He needs to be DEPORTED,' Ogles wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalisation proceedings.' In the same post, Ogles labeled Mamdani 'an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York.' The congressman escalated his rhetoric with a formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice to investigate whether Mamdani gained U.S. citizenship through fraud. He cited a 2017 rap lyric by Mamdani referencing the 'Holy Land Five' — individuals who led a Muslim charity shut down for illegally funding Hamas in 2008. Curbing ICE, Mamdani's one of many plans for New York While his pledge to remove ICE from city facilities has drawn national attention, it is just one part of a broader agenda. Mamdani's campaign also promises to establish city-run grocery stores, freeze rent hikes in rent-stabilised apartments, and make city buses free for all. He says these proposals would be funded through a $10 billion tax increase on large businesses and wealthy residents. Since 2021, Zohran Mamdani has served as a state assemblyman representing Astoria, Queens. His recent win in the Democratic mayoral primary suggests growing public support for his progressive platform in New York City.
