Recent Developments in Immigration Enforcement Targeting Iranian Asylum-Seekers
LOS ANGELES — Iranian asylum-seekers in Los Angeles are facing detentions by immigration officials, even as they pursue credible-fear claims in court. This troubling trend is a reflection of the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Iran.
Many of these asylum-seekers are Christians fleeing Iran, where non-Muslim religions are viewed with substantial intolerance. According to the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry, there are approximately 4 million Iranian exiles globally, with nearly a third residing in the United States as of 2021.
The recent wave of arrests has led some Iranian detainees to initiate hunger strikes, resulting in serious health complications. Notably, a woman suffered a severe panic attack during her husband’s arrest near “Tehrangeles,” a community known for its significant Iranian population. Observers, including her pastor, Ara Torosian, described harrowing scenes where the woman began to convulse while surrounded by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
In a widely shared video, Torosian can be heard pleading for medical assistance for the woman, questioning the agents on their understanding of the dire situation faced by Christian Iranians. The couple’s identities remain protected due to privacy concerns.
Torosian noted that the couple, who are members of his church, entered the United States under a mobile app called CBP One, which aimed to simplify the asylum-seeking process. This program, initiated under the Biden administration, was discontinued after President Donald Trump regained office.
After her husband’s detainment, the woman was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Torosian reported that ICE agents obstructed advocates and healthcare staff from providing assistance. UCLA Health subsequently confirmed that a patient in federal custody had been treated before their release, emphasizing that no ICE operation was conducted within the hospital.
Another family in Torosian’s congregation also fell victim to the recent detentions. Seyedmajid Seyedali and his family attended what they believed was a routine immigration check-in, only to be arrested and taken to a detention facility in Texas. This family had an asylum hearing scheduled for September and are now facing additional challenges, with Seyedali’s wife reportedly on a hunger strike.
The family’s lawyer, Kaveh Ardalan, has highlighted that at least five Iranian asylum-seekers have been detained recently, alongside clients from Honduras and Venezuela. He aims to seek bond releases for eligible families as the situation develops.
Torosian expressed that his parish is mobilizing resources to support Seyedali’s family, pledging to assist with their rent should they secure release. Reflecting on these events, he stated, “I’m ready for the fight. I’m standing for my people.”
