An Iranian immigrant who’s been caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration raids has gone viral for still supporting President Donald Trump.
Meet Arpineh Masihi, 39, an Iranian-born woman who’s been in the States since she was three years old.
For many of those years, she had a green card, but it was revoked after she was convicted of burglary and grand theft in 2008 during what the BBC describes as a “rough patch” in her life.
But because she’s a Christian Armenian Iranian, the judge cut her a break and allowed her to remain in the U.S.
“We are Christians — she can’t go back, there’s no way,” her husband, American citizen Arthur Sahakyan, told the BBC.
Arpineh Masihi came to America when she was just 3 years old as a refugee from Iran. She had to say goodbye to her children when ICE arrived at her front door
Her husband, claims the detainment stems from an incident that took place 15 years ago regarding a theft conviction pic.twitter.com/egBr1qFNib
— Hassan Farah (@HassanF28182803) July 5, 2025
Since her break, she’s transformed her life.
“Arpineh has rebuilt her life, starting a successful business and a family among hundreds of thousands of Iranian immigrants who call Southern California home,” the BBC notes.
But then the Trump administration’s crackdown began, leading to the moment on June 30 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared outside Arpineh’s door.
She calmly explained her situation to them, but they responded by saying things had changed and that they had a warrant for her arrest. Instead of trying to run away or make a scene, however, she willingly complied.
“They told us no matter what we’re going to catch you – maybe if you’re driving on the street with your kids, so … she came and kissed the kids goodbye,” Arpineh’s husband explained to the BBC. “She came outside like a champion and said, ‘Here I am.'”
He hasn’t seen her since.
According to the BBC, she was first detained at a rundown federal building in Los Angeles, where she claims she and other detainees “were treated like animals.”
“Arpineh [said] she was held in a freezing, brightly lit room with 28 other women for three days,” the BBC notes. “They survived on snacks and one bottle of water a day, she says, the women huddling together for warmth, and sleeping on the floor.”
She was later transferred to a privately run ICE detention center where she reportedly faced much better conditions, including access to three meals a day, showers, and a bed.
As of early July, she still remained at the facility.
Despite everything she and her family have been through, they still remain devout supporters of President Trump and his immigration crackdown agenda.
A supporter of President Donald Trump has refused to take down MAGA flags outside his home even after federal agents arrested his Iranian wife.
Arpineh Masihi was detained in Diamond Bar, California last week.
Herr husband Arthu Sahakyan: “I’m still supporting [Trump]. pic.twitter.com/ZlCKuphoqE— Jose Merced (@josemerced) July 3, 2025
“He’s doing the right thing because lots of these people don’t deserve to be here,” she bluntly told the BBC. “I will support him until the day I die. He’s making America great again.”
She’s also hopeful that the Trump administration will give her a break, especially given all she’s accomplished.
“I have four citizen children, I own a business, I own a property, I own cars,” she said. “I haven’t done anything wrong in so many years.”
Her husband, meanwhile, has blamed former President Joe Biden for their situation, not President Trump.
“I don’t blame Trump, I blame Biden,” he said. “It’s his doing for open borders, but I believe in the system, and all the good people will be released, and the ones that are bad will be sent back.”
In fact, her husband proudly refuses to take down the pro-Trump flag outside their home.
“Even though my friends say take the flag down, you’re going through a lot, I’m like no — the flag stands,” he told local media.
He did share a little criticism for the Trump administration, though.
“I think we could have a faster process,” he said of America’s immigration system. “She’s not a radical, or tied to the crazies, let her out.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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