Arpineh Masihi was taken into custody in California’s Diamond Bar city last week by ICE agents due to immigration issues stemming from a past conviction.
A California man is standing by his support for former President Donald Trump—even as his Iranian-born wife was detained by federal immigration authorities last week.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, Arpineh Masihi was taken into custody in Diamond Bar, California, due to unresolved immigration issues linked to a prior conviction. Despite her arrest, her husband, Arthu Sahakyan, has refused to remove the “Make America Great Again” flags outside their home, saying they represent his continued support for Trump.
Sahakyan acknowledged the emotional toll the situation has taken on his family but maintained that he believes Trump’s policies aren’t intended to harm people.
“The president’s not trying to do anything bad,” he said. “We understand what Trump is doing—he wants what’s best for the country. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”
He added that friends and neighbors have urged him to take the MAGA flags down, but he refuses.
“The flag stands,” Sahakyan declared.
A surveillance video from the day of the arrest shows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the couple’s home. Masihi is seen returning inside briefly to say goodbye to her four children before being taken away.
Sahakyan shared that Masihi entered the U.S. as a refugee from Iran at the age of three. Her green card was revoked nearly 15 years ago due to what he described as a misdemeanor theft conviction. The family has since tried to help her regain legal status.
Earlier this year, Masihi attended an immigration check-in, where officials reportedly assured her that she was “fine” and asked her to return for another appointment in September or October. However, last week, she was detained unexpectedly. Sahakyan said his wife later called him to say she was being transferred to another facility.
The incident has caused him to reconsider aspects of immigration enforcement, admitting that recent events have “somewhat” shifted his views.
Masihi is among over 130 Iranian nationals reportedly detained by ICE in recent weeks, as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran. The arrests come on the heels of a volatile period in U.S.-Iran relations, sparked by Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran targeted the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses U.S. troops. The standoff led to a two-week missile exchange between Iran and Israel, culminating in a Trump-brokered ceasefire.
