An Iranian-born Trump supporter arrested by federal immigration agents outside her California home last summer who spent 187 days in detention says the experience did not change her political views.
Arpineh Kamal Masihi was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 30, 2025 and held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center for more than six months before returning home.
“I was there for 187 days,” Masihi said after her release.
Why It Matters
Masihi, who came to the United States from Iran at age three as a refugee, had her green card revoked roughly 15 years ago following a theft-related conviction, according to her husband.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, describing Masihi as a “criminal illegal alien from Iran.”
What To Know
Despite months in detention and national attention surrounding her case, Masihi said in an interview with CBS Los Angeles that her support for President Donald Trump remains intact.
Masihi asked the station not to show her face, saying she has received threats and hate mail from both the political right and left.
“Everybody’s gonna have their own opinion. I still support the president of the United States,” she said.
Her husband, Arthu Sahakyan, has continued displaying Trump flags outside their home and has started a nonprofit organization to help immigrants he met during the detention process to access legal resources.
She described the early days of her detention as frightening and emotional.
“To be apart from your children, your husband, the people you love, it broke me,” she said.
For now, Masihi said she is focused on healing and rebuilding daily life with her family.
“I’m on the verge of getting my green card back,” she said. “Hopefully by end of this year, I will be an American citizen.”
What People Are Saying
Arthu Sahakyan, Kamal Masihi’s husband, told Fox 11 Los Angeles back in June: “I’m very for [the United States vetting] Iranian nationals because of the sleeper cells.
“I think [the recent arrests of Iranians] will resolve a lot of issues because we’ll know exactly who’s in here for what reasons. Even though I miss [my wife] dearly. I think we could have a faster process [where they determine] she’s not a radical, or tied to the crazies, let her out.”
What Happens Next
As of December 17, 2025, at least 260 Iranian nationals were in active ICE custody, according to data compiled by the National Iranian American Council and the Human Rights First ICE Flight Monitor. Over the course of the year, approximately 670 Iranian nationals were processed through the immigration system.
