This is a matter of national security, government transparency, and the consistent enforcement of American law.

In April 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated the lawful permanent-resident status of individuals connected to senior figures of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The administration determined that their continued presence could have serious consequences for U.S. foreign-policy interests and placed them in ICE custody pending removal.

One prominent case involves Seyed Eissa Hashemi, the son of former Iranian vice president Masoumeh Ebtekar, and his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi. Ebtekar served as the English-language spokesperson for the group responsible for the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, during which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. She later held senior positions within the Islamic Republic. In April 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that Secretary Rubio had terminated the family’s lawful permanent-resident status and that they had been placed in ICE custody pending removal.

Months later, these cases remain unresolved as legal proceedings continue, creating additional costs for American taxpayers and leaving the public with unanswered questions.

The Institute for Voices of Liberty respects due process and the authority of the courts. We also believe Americans deserve clear information about the status of these cases and the government’s broader review of individuals with material connections to senior officials and institutions of the Islamic Republic.

Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides grounds for removal when the Secretary of State determines that a foreign national’s presence or activities could have potentially serious adverse foreign-policy consequences for the United States.

We respectfully call upon President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Marco Rubio, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and the Department of Justice to:

1. Complete these proceedings promptly and in full accordance with the law.
2. Continue defending the Secretary of State’s determinations through every lawful stage.
3. Explain any legal barriers currently preventing resolution.
4. Disclose the taxpayer cost of continued detention.
5. Provide aggregate information about other immigration cases involving material connections to senior officials or institutions of the Islamic Republic.
6. Ensure that every case is reviewed individually, consistently, and on documented evidence.

This petition is not directed against Iranian Americans, lawful immigrants, or those who escaped the Islamic Republic in search of freedom. It concerns individuals who materially benefit from connections to an authoritarian regime that represses the Iranian people and acts against American interests.

Americans deserve national-security decisions that are lawful, transparent, and carried through without unnecessary delay.

Sign this petition to protect American interests and request the prompt, lawful, and transparent resolution of these cases.