An Iranian-born activist who lost an eye after being shot by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard during protests is publicly criticizing the son of a former Iranian official who is fighting to remain in the United States. Raheleh Amiri, who resides in California, has targeted Seyed Eissa Hashemi, the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, an Iranian regime figure known for her role as a spokeswoman during the 1979 hostage crisis.
Hashemi, 43, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California months ago. His green card was reportedly revoked under an order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initiating efforts to deport him. Hashemi is now seeking financial assistance through a GoFundMe campaign to support his legal battle to stay in the U.S. The campaign has already raised nearly $40,000 and is intended to help Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their teenage son, who have been detained in a Texas ICE facility since April.
Tahmasebi, Ebtekar’s daughter-in-law, has hired an attorney and appealed the deportation order. In a letter published by The Nation, she described their situation as "hell" and pleaded for help, stating, "I just want an ordinary life in America for myself and my son."
Amiri, who bears scars from the Islamic Republic's crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, drew a contrast between the situation of Iranians facing execution in her home country and the Ebtekar family's engagement with the American justice system. She stated, "I, and many young Iranians who were shot, tortured, harassed, and killed by the government of the Islamic Republic, also wanted one thing and one thing only: an ordinary life for ourselves in our own country, Iran."
Amiri argued that Ebtekar's past role was more significant than simply a translator, noting that Ebtekar held important leadership positions within the Islamic Republic up to the present day. Amiri characterized the family's desire to remain in America not as a pursuit of education, work, or an ordinary life, but as an effort to build lobbying networks and act as propaganda for the Islamic Republic. She urged the U.S. public and the Trump administration not to be swayed by Tahmasebi's words or to show sympathy towards the children of Islamic Republic officials in the United States. Amiri concluded by calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Hashemi's full deportation.
Hashemi has lived in the United States since 2010. The family's presence in the ICE detention center has drawn attention, with American taxpayers covering the costs of their housing and care. Tahmasebi’s appeal through her attorney is currently pending. The GoFundMe campaign highlights the family's efforts to fund their legal defense against the removal proceedings initiated after their green cards were revoked in April 2026.