Seyed Eissa Hashemi’s family was in a panic, believing he had been “kidnapped” after he vanished from their home in Los Angeles County on Thursday. They even contacted the police. Later, ICE officers came back and took Hashemi and his family into custody.
Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the green cards of Hashemi, the son of “Screaming Mary” Masoumeh Ebtekar, along with his wife Maryam Tahmasebi and their young child, just a week after the niece and grandniece of the late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani were arrested.
The family was detained on Monday, a few days after reports indicated they were living in luxury at The Avalon in Agoura Hills.
Hashemi, who works as an adjunct associate professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, reportedly didn’t criticize his mother when she approached him after a workout.
He graduated from the University of Tehran in 2006 and moved to the U.S. in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Organizational Leadership at the Chicago School.
Neighbors expressed surprise, stating they had no idea about the family’s connections to the Iranian government or their nationality. One remarked, “They were freaking out that he had disappeared.” After the arrest, they noted that Hashemi had left his keys behind but took his cell phone, which allowed his family to track him.
According to ICE, Hashemi’s wife and child were also taken into custody, but specifics remain unclear.
The State Department accused Hashemi’s mother, Ebtekar, of producing false narratives about the treatment of hostages and staging interviews where American hostages were coerced into presenting their treatment as positive, even while enduring severe conditions.
The family’s legal status in the U.S. was annulled because officials believe “the United States will never allow an alien to become home to an individual linked to an anti-American terrorist regime.”
This visa cancellation followed sustained efforts by anti-Iran activists. Earlier this year, demonstrations took place at the $20,000-a-year Chicago School and surrounding institutions, demanding Hashemi’s deportation.
Organizers of a Change.org petition are advocating for Hashemi’s removal. One contributor voiced concern, saying, “While his mother has no regret about her actions at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, many Iranians continue to suffer because of it, while her son enjoys life here.”
Another commenter pointed out that Hashemi has not distanced himself from his mother’s controversial past, suggesting that his presence could compromise the values and safety of U.S. universities and warrants further scrutiny.
In a related matter, Soleimani’s niece, Hamide Soleimani Afshar, was taken into custody in Tujunga and is currently in an ICE facility in Texas. Additionally, Soleimani’s grandmother has drawn attention through her social media showcasing a lavish lifestyle.
The U.S. also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, a prominent Iranian official’s daughter, who had recently been working at Emory University but was also ordered to leave the country.
Congressman Buddy Carter emphasized the need for U.S. institutions to not serve as shelters for individuals who are associated with hostile governments, furthering calls for these removals.
