Seyed Eissa Hashemi, the son of a former Iranian regime official infamously known as “Screaming Mary,” and his family are continuing their legal fight against removal from the United States, months after their green cards were revoked. Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their teenage son were arrested by federal agents in April 2026 and have remained in ICE custody in Texas.
Their mother, Masoumeh Ebtekar, served as the English-language spokeswoman for the militants involved in the 1979 U.S. Embassy seizure and hostage crisis, and later held high-ranking positions within the Iranian government, including vice president. The U.S. Secretary of State revoked the family’s lawful permanent resident status in April 2026, citing potential adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, as provided for under Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
An attempt to raise funds for their legal defense through a GoFundMe campaign garnered over $40,000 before it was shut down due to backlash from the Iranian American community. Critics, including Iranian dissidents who have experienced repression in their home country, have expressed outrage over the family’s prolonged stay in the U.S. and the taxpayer-funded resources used for their detention and legal challenges.
The Institute for Voices of Liberty (IVOL), an organization advocating for a free Iran, has launched a petition demanding a prompt, lawful, and transparent resolution to the case. The petition, titled “Protect America from the Influence of Iran’s Authoritarian Regime,” has garnered nearly 14,000 signatures and calls for transparency regarding the costs to taxpayers and any legal impediments delaying the family’s removal.
IVOL emphasizes that its campaign is not directed at Iranian Americans or those who have fled Iran but rather at individuals with alleged material connections to senior Iranian officials and institutions. The organization stated that Americans deserve national security decisions that are lawful, transparent, and executed without undue delay.
Raheleh Amiri, an Iranian dissident who was injured during anti-regime protests in Iran, criticized the narrative surrounding Ebtekar’s role in the 1979 hostage crisis, arguing it was more significant than portrayed. Mersedeh Shahinkar, another Iranian activist, highlighted the contrast between the legal avenues available to the Hashemi family in the U.S. and the treatment of dissidents within Iran.
While respecting the family's right to due process and legal challenges, IVOL and other critics are urging the administration to provide clarity on the case and ensure the consistent enforcement of U.S. immigration law. The family has challenged the government's decision, and their case remains tied up in legal proceedings.