Outrage is mounting after a Los Angeles business owner revealed that his wife, a green card holder who had passed her citizenship exam, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The woman, identified as Sharareh Moghadam, has been held in a Phoenix detention center for a month despite preparing for her naturalization ceremony.
Husband Speaks Out
Sharareh’s husband, Aghdassi, said the detention has left him devastated. “She had a green card, passed an exam for citizenship, and was waiting for the ceremony. She is not a bank robber, thief, or criminal,” he insisted. The couple, who run a balloon shop business in LA, had expected the immigration meeting to be a step toward citizenship. Instead, it ended with her arrest.
ICE Provides Justification
ICE officials disputed the family’s claims, saying Sharareh is not a US citizen or national but an Iranian native with a criminal history. According to the agency, she entered the country in 2014 and gained lawful permanent residency in 2016. Records show she had two separate theft convictions between 2015 and 2019, which ICE says demonstrate “a clear disregard for US laws.” Officials argue this history makes her subject to removal from the country.
Community Rallies Support
Despite ICE’s position, the couple’s customers and supporters are rallying behind them. Visitors to their shop have been signing a petition urging lawmakers to intervene before her hearing. Many argue her past convictions should not outweigh her progress toward citizenship, particularly since she had already completed the exam and was awaiting the final ceremony.
Husband’s Anguish
Aghdassi says he has not seen his wife in a month and fears for their future. “Years ago, for us, the dream was the U.S. is a land of opportunity and freedom, and it was, but right now you can see everything changed,” he said. He has also expressed growing insecurity about their place in America.
Public Reaction
The case has sparked strong online debate. Critics of ICE accused the agency of using deception—encouraging immigrants to follow the legal path only to detain them during the process. “They expect people to do immigration the right way, but when they do, they get arrested,” one commenter wrote. Others defended the Trump administration’s approach, arguing that following the law and due process is necessary, even for green card holders.