The United States is preparing to expel the privileged son of a well-known Iranian propaganda leader following a sudden operation at his upscale residence.
Seyed Eissa Hashemi, along with his spouse Maryam Tahmasebi and their child, have been apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) awaiting their deportation from the nation, according to a statement from the US Department of State. Mr. Hashemi, son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a spokesperson for the regime notorious for her fervent speeches during the 1979 hostage crisis, was dubbed ‘Screaming Mary’ for her actions.
Upon returning home in Los Angeles, Eissa’s wife was alarmed to discover her husband missing on Thursday, prompting her to contact authorities before ICE officials later took her and their child into custody. Neighbors mentioned that despite leaving his keys behind, Hashemi retained his phone, which allowed his family to track his whereabouts.
The 43-year-old relocated to the US in 2010 to complete his doctoral studies in organizational leadership at The Chicago School university and subsequently served as an adjunct associate professor in the psychology department. His family obtained lawful permanent resident status in 2016 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, which was terminated by the Trump administration in December 2025.
Hashemi declined to disavow his mother when approached by exiled Iranian opposition activists earlier this year. Masoumeh, characterized by her American accent acquired during her childhood in Pennsylvania, took on a prominent role as the regime’s public figure following the 1979 US Embassy siege in Tehran.
In a recent statement, the US Department of State accused her of orchestrating propaganda depicting false humane treatment of hostages and coercing positive testimonials from the captives under duress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that the family should not have enjoyed the privilege of residing in the US, emphasizing that the country will not harbor anti-American extremists or their families.
The family resided in a luxury apartment in Agoura Hills, California, named ‘The Avalon,’ just before their detainment. Calls for their deportation had surfaced months prior, with protests and petitions urging for their removal from the country.
Protesters congregated at educational institutions connected to Hashemi in Claremont, demanding his expulsion. One petitioner emphasized the contrast between the mother’s actions and the son’s advantages in the US, advocating for the swift deportation of Eissa Hashemi and his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi.