Iran ‘human rights activist’ Masih Alinejad takes credit for ICE abduction of US legal residents

Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad has claimed responsibility for the detention of a U.S. family of Iranian legal permanent residents, according to reports published in The Nation magazine. The family, consisting of Maryam Tahmasebi, her husband Eissa Hashemi, and their teenage son, were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 9, 2021, despite having no criminal record or immigration violations. The arrests followed a social media campaign by Alinejad, who accused the family of being connected to Iran's political past. Tahmasebi, a professor at Los Angeles Pierce College, and her husband, Eissa Hashemi, a professor at The Chicago School, have lived in California for many years. Their son, who has attended the local school system since early childhood, speaks only English. Despite their long-standing residency and adherence to U.S. laws, the family was detained without prior notice. According to Tahmasebi, the initial arrest of her husband occurred on April 1, following a video post by Alinejad on the platform formerly known as Twitter. In the video, Alinejad mocked Hashemi for not publicly condemning his mother, Masoumeh Ebtekar, an Iranian politician and former translator for the 1979 Iranian student group that seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Ebtekar, who served as the translator during the embassy takeover, is also the mother of Iran’s vice president. Alinejad’s video highlighted the family’s alleged ties to this historical event, suggesting that their presence in the U.S. was linked to their lineage. The video included images of the family’s residence in Los Angeles, which Alinejad described as a “luxury home.” She implied that the family’s continued stay in the U.S., despite their heritage, was hypocritical. Tahmasebi claims that her husband was arrested without warning, and she only learned of his whereabouts when his phone location indicated he was at an ICE facility in Los Angeles. After speaking with him, she found out that she and her son were also targeted. The next day, she and her child were approached by Department of Homeland Security vehicles while near the school, leading to their immediate detention. They were taken to different facilities, with Hashemi being held in one center and the rest of the family in another. The family is currently held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, where they remain separated. Tahmasebi describes the emotional toll of being torn apart from her husband and the realization that in the U.S., personal achievements and academic work hold little weight compared to perceived political connections. She emphasizes that the family was not responsible for actions taken by their ancestors or political figures. Alinejad, who previously worked as a presenter for Voice of America, has received substantial funding from the U.S. government. She has been active in advocating for a change of government in Iran and has been associated with pro-democracy movements. Her involvement in the campaign against the Hashemi family raises questions about the role of individuals with political affiliations in influencing immigration policies. The case highlights broader concerns about the impact of political activism on the lives of immigrants, particularly those with ties to countries with complex political histories. As the family awaits resolution, their experience underscores the challenges faced by legal residents caught in the intersection of personal identity and political ideology.