The White House has announced it is “reviewing” the immigration status of Iranians who received benefits during the Biden administration, amid reports of a petition circulating online that demands the United States expel Iran’s ruling elite.
This petition, which has gained traction with over 41,000 signatures, specifically calls for the expulsion of Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, daughter of a significant Iranian official and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Ali Larijani, Fatemeh’s father, recently criticized former President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on social media, labeling them as “the main killers of the Iranian people.” This, despite the fact that his regime has been responsible for the deaths of numerous protesters in recent days.
Fatemeh’s sister, Ardesir Larijani, who works as a cancer doctor at Emory University in Atlanta, was granted a green card in 2021 under Biden’s administration, according to Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Another individual under scrutiny is Eissa Hashemi, living in California. He is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, an extremist known for her role during the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis.
“The Trump administration is reviewing all immigration benefits granted under the Biden administration to foreign nationals from countries of concern, including Iran,” McLaughlin stated.
Proponents of the petition feel it’s unacceptable for high-ranking members of the Iranian regime, accused of severe crackdowns on their own populace, to find sanctuary in the U.S. while ordinary Iranians continue to suffer under their rule.
