Iranian Woman Experiences Intense Panic Attack During Her Husband’s Arrest by ICE Agents
In Los Angeles, recent arrests of Iranian asylum-seekers have raised serious concerns among their advocates and legal representatives. Many of these individuals, who fled the Islamic Republic in search of safety, have been apprehended by immigration officials despite pending credible-fear cases in court.
This trend appears to be part of a broader pattern targeting Iranians, exacerbated by rising tensions between the Trump administration and Iran. A significant number of those seeking refuge are Christians, escaping the Islamic Republic’s restrictive stance on non-Muslim faiths.
As reported by Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry statistics from 2021, there are approximately 4 million Iranian exiles globally, with a sizable portion residing in the United States. These unexpected detentions have prompted some asylum-seekers to engage in hunger strikes while in custody.
Disturbingly, some incidents have escalated to medical emergencies. For instance, during a recent arrest in an area nicknamed “Tehrangeles” for its large Iranian population, an Iranian woman suffered a severe panic attack after witnessing her husband’s arrest.
As her condition worsened, her pastor attempted to intervene but was unable to assist effectively. In a shocking video shared on social media, the woman was seen convulsing on the ground while masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded her.
Her pastor, Ara Torosian, pleaded with the agents for medical help, highlighting the fear many Iranian Christians experience regarding return to their homeland. The couple had initially entered the U.S. last year using a mobile app intended to facilitate the asylum process, a program later canceled by the Trump administration.
Following her arrest, the woman was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where she was guarded by ICE agents despite the presence of immigrant advocates. UCLA Health later stated that an individual under federal custody had been treated and released, refuting claims of an ICE operation at the facility.
Torosian, who arrived in the U.S. as a Christian refugee himself, expressed his alarm at the current immigration climate. He noted that recent raids remind him of the oppressive conditions in Iran.
Additionally, another Iranian Christian family faced similar circumstances when they were arrested during a scheduled check-in with immigration authorities, despite having an asylum hearing scheduled for September. Their lawyer reported that they were taken to a detention facility in Texas, where the mother has since begun a hunger strike.
With multiple Iranian clients in custody, the family’s lawyer, Kaveh Ardalan, is working to seek bond releases for them, while Torosian’s parish is actively raising funds to support the arrested family’s housing needs after their potential release. He remains resolute in his commitment to support his community amidst these challenging times.