June 30, 2025: Trump arrested Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian, a 64-year-old grandmother who lived in the United States for 47 years, was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in front of her home, sparking concern over a wave of arrests targeting longtime Iranian residents.
Kashanian, who came to the U.S. in 1978 on a student visa and later applied for asylum, had lived a quiet life in New Orleans with her American husband and their daughter. Though her asylum application was denied, she was allowed to stay if she complied with routine immigration check-ins — which she did faithfully, even during Hurricane Katrina.
Her family was shocked when ICE agents arrested her while she was gardening outside her home. “She’s retirement age. She’s not a threat. Who picks up a grandmother?” her husband, Russell Milne, said.
Kashanian’s case is not isolated. Immigration arrests of Iranians across the U.S. appear to be rising following increased tensions between Washington and Tehran, including recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian facilities. ICE has confirmed the arrest of at least 11 Iranians for immigration violations in just one weekend.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the individuals arrested are “known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists,” though no evidence has been presented linking Kashanian or others to any threats. Advocacy groups and immigration attorneys argue the arrests are politically motivated.
“It seems like ICE has done a sweep of Iranians — regardless of threat level — which is deeply concerning,” said Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council.
The fear among Iranian immigrants is growing. In Oregon, a man identified as S.F., who has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years with his U.S. citizen wife and children, was detained by ICE weeks before a scheduled check-in. He faces deportation despite his attorney citing increased danger in Iran due to the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.
Historically, deporting Iranians has been rare due to the lack of diplomatic relations. However, recent policy shifts — including a travel ban and increased pressure on countries to accept deportees — have signaled a change. Under former President Donald Trump, deportations to third countries were used as workarounds for uncooperative governments.
From October 2021 through November 2024, Border Patrol arrested Iranians over 1,700 times at the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, 600 Iranians overstayed their visas in the most recent 12-month reporting period.
Kashanian is currently held in a Louisiana detention center while her family seeks legal remedies. “She volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, filmed Persian cooking tutorials, and was like a grandmother to the neighborhood kids,” her husband said. “She did everything right.”
As legal challenges mount, immigration attorneys warn that more long-term residents may face the same fate — detained and deported without clear ties to any criminal activity, solely due to their nationality.