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Emigration and immigration

Iranian Mother Detained by ICE for 47 Years Released Amid Community Support and Advocacy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Advocacy from Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has led to the release of Mandonna "Donna" Kashanian, a 64-year-old Iranian mother who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers last month. Kashanian had been living in the United States for 47 years, during which time she had been allowed to stay as long as she checked in regularly with immigration authorities, a routine she followed without fail. Her release has been met with relief from her family, neighbors, and community, who have been rallying behind her cause.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kashanian, 64, was detained by ICE officers last month while gardening in her yard, despite having lived in the U.S. for 47 years and having a regular check-in routine with immigration authorities.
  • Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise intervened on behalf of Kashanian, asking the Department of Homeland Security to give her "a fair shake" and consider her "life's work" in the community.
  • Kashanian had been a devoted mother, wife, caretaker, and volunteer, serving in various roles with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, her local school district, and the NOLA Tree Project.
  • Over 100 of Kashanian's neighbors wrote letters of support for her, which were shared with the Trump administration by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty and Scalise.
  • Kashanian's husband, Russell Milne, stated that his family was "extremely grateful" for the community support and elected officials who advocated for her release.
  • Kashanian's attorney, Ken Mayeaux, stated that his client had "faithfully and fully complied" with immigration terms for decades, including checking in with authorities during Hurricane Katrina.
  • Mayeaux also highlighted that Kashanian's release was crucial in preventing a grandmother from becoming a "deportation statistic," emphasizing the threat posed by immigration detentions to families and communities.
  • Kashanian's release comes as part of a broader context of Iranian individuals living in the U.S. being detained and deported, with over 3,000 arrests made per day under directives from the Trump administration.

Statistics:

  • 47 years: the amount of time Kashanian has lived in the United States.
  • 100: the number of Kashanian's neighbors who wrote letters of support for her, which were shared with the Trump administration by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty and Scalise.
  • 3,000: the number of arrests made per day under directives from the Trump administration.
  • 12 countries: the list of countries subject to a U.S. travel ban, including Iran.
  • 1978: the year Kashanian arrived in the U.S. on a student visa.
  • 1992: the year a deportation order was upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
  • 2019: the year ICE New Orleans stated that Kashanian had failed to depart the U.S. after the deportation order was upheld.

Sources:

  • "U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise: 'We looked at it and said, 'Are they really looking at it the right way, objectively?'"
  • "Mandonna 'Donna' Kashanian: released Iranian mother who has lived in the U.S. for 47 years"
  • "ICE New Orleans: 'She was ordered by a judge to depart the U.S. and didn't. Shouldn't be a surprise we came knocking'"

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