Overview

• Sharareh Moghadam, an Iranian national and legal U.S. resident, was detained during an immigration appointment she believed would lead to her citizenship ceremony, according to her husband.
• ICE issued an official statement asserting Moghadam has a documented criminal history with two theft convictions from 2015 to 2019 and is subject to removal.
• Her husband, Hooshang Aghdassi, disputes that characterization, saying she holds a green card, passed the citizenship test, and has no criminal record.
• Moghadam has been held for about 30 days at a detention facility in Arizona, with her husband reporting health concerns, retained counsel, and the possibility she may self-deport if not released.
• Customers at the couple’s Studio City shop have signed a petition urging Rep. Brad Sherman to intervene, as new data show roughly 60,930 people detained by ICE nationwide since January.