U.S. Revokes Green Cards, Arrests Iranians for Alleged Regime Ties

The U.S. government has arrested two Iranian nationals and their adult son, revoking their legal permanent resident status. The State Department alleges the family acted as covert operatives for the Iranian government. Seyed Eissa Hashemi and Maryam Tahmasebi now await removal from the United States. Their son was also arrested in the operation. Officials state the family entered the U.S. through a special immigrant visa program. This program is intended for Iraqis and Afghans who assisted American forces. Authorities claim the family fraudulently obtained their "green cards" and have maintained direct ties to the Iranian regime. The arrests are part of a broader effort to counter what U.S. officials describe as transnational repression. This term refers to governments intimidating or harming critics living abroad.