ICE Arrests 64-Year-Old Iranian Woman Who Has Lived in the US for 47 Years

Madonna "Donna" Kashanian, a 64-year-old Iranian woman who has resided in the United States for nearly five decades, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Sunday. 

The arrest, which occurred outside her Lakeview home while she was tending her garden, has raised questions about the motivations behind ICE's recent operations, particularly in light of heightened tensions between the US and Iran. Kashanian was apprehended by plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles and transported across state lines to Mississippi before being transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Centre in Basile, Louisiana. Neighbours described the scene as abrupt and alarming. 

Her daughter, Kaitlynn Milne, confirms that communication has been sporadic but is now improving, noting that Kashanian "sounds okay" and expresses more concern for her family. Kashanian first arrived in the US in 1978 on a student visa and has since established deep roots in New Orleans. Over the years, she has sought permanent residency, including applying for asylum due to fears of persecution stemming from her father's association with the US-backed Shah of Iran. 

Despite the rejection of her asylum claims, she was granted a stay of removal, contingent on regular check-ins with immigration authorities. According to her family, she has consistently complied with these requirements.

Milne stated, "She checks in regularly. She had her next appointment scheduled for 21 July." 

The only missed appointment occurred during a period when in-person visits were suspended due to administrative constraints. Sarah Gerig, a close family friend, recounts the arrest as "distressingly swift," adding, "It was one of our worst fears, but we were shocked. She was just in her yard. My husband ran out to try to talk to her."

ICE has not provided specific details regarding Kashanian's case. However, the Department of Homeland Security issued a broader statement confirming the detention of 11 Iranian nationals nationwide over the same weekend. Earlier this month, two Iranian university students in Baton Rouge were also arrested, along with 84 individuals at a racetrack in south-west Louisiana, only two of whom ICE alleges have criminal records.

These arrests occur against a backdrop of increasing immigration enforcement. Figures published in June indicate that detentions of people without criminal histories have surged by 807% since President Donald Trump's second term began. Currently, ICE facilities across the country are reportedly holding approximately 59,000 people.