Activists with Iranian-American backgrounds are organizing two online petitions urging the Trump administration to deport relatives of high-ranking officials in the Iranian government. They’re arguing that it’s unfair for the regime to have a privileged existence in the U.S. while it systematically represses countless dissidents to maintain control.
One of the petitions focuses on Eissa Hashemi, the 43-year-old son of Masumeh Ebtekar, who infamously served as a spokesperson during Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, notably during the hostage crisis at the American embassy. Ebtekar made history as the first female vice president of Iran. Hashemi has been living in the U.S. since 2010 and is currently an adjunct professor at a school in Los Angeles.
Another petition targets Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, the daughter of Ali Larijani, who is the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Larijani has been a prominent defender of the government’s violent crackdown on recent protests. In the past week, he received recognition from the U.S. Treasury Department due to his involvement in these harsh measures, having been one of the early advocates for using violence against demonstrators.
Ardeshir Larijani, 40, works as an assistant professor in Hematology-Oncology at Emory University in Atlanta and obtained her green card in 2021, during the Biden administration.
The petition for the deportation of Hashemi and Ardeshir Larijani claims it’s unreasonable for them to benefit from life in the U.S. while their families rule a harsh regime back home. It mentions that these individuals have not condemned their families’ actions or spoken against living well on the backs of suffering Iranians.
Mercede Shahinkar, who lost vision in one eye during the 2022 uprising against the regime, expressed her outrage at seeing the children of oppressive officials thriving in America. She questioned why they are allowed to live freely and travel without restrictions while ordinary Iranians face severe hardships.
The White House recently said it’s reviewing immigration benefits previously granted to foreign nationals from countries of concern, including Iran. This announcement came in light of increasing scrutiny over immigration policies under the past administration.
On Monday, numerous Iranian-Americans staged a silent protest outside Emory University against the hiring of Ali Larijani’s daughter. Participants aimed to honor the victims of the regime’s violence while contrasting it with the silence they felt was necessary to communicate their message effectively. One protester remarked that the presence of Larijani’s daughter, who refers to the U.S. as “the great devil,” underscores the disparity faced by ordinary Iranian students and researchers who struggle to receive visas.
Another protester raised a valid point: Why are there so many capable, pro-American Iranians facing barriers, while relatives of opposing officials find it easy to come and go? The underlying sentiment reflects the frustration many feel regarding these inconsistencies in U.S. immigration policy.
