A devoted Donald Trump supporter is standing by the former president—even as his own wife was taken from their California home by immigration agents in a dramatic moment captured on surveillance video.
Arpineh Masihi was detained by ICE on June 30, just moments after saying goodbye to her four children at the family’s doorstep. Despite the emotional scene, her husband, Arthur Sahakyan, says he still supports Trump and the tough immigration policies that led to her arrest.
“Trump isn’t trying to hurt anyone,” Arthur told Fox 11. “We understand what he’s doing. He wants the best for the country. I’m just trying to stay strong. I don’t want any families to go through this—if they are, I’m sorry, because it’s hard.”
Arpineh, originally from Iran, arrived in the U.S. as a child refugee. However, her legal status was revoked about 15 years ago following a theft conviction, which Arthur described as “misdemeanor stuff.” Since then, the couple had been navigating the immigration system in hopes of restoring her citizenship.
“She just had a check-in back in April,” Arthur said. “They told her, ‘You’re good. See you in September or October.’”
But everything changed in late June, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Amid rising tensions, federal authorities began detaining Iranian nationals over fears of sleeper cells within the country. Arpineh was one of more than 130 Iranians detained during the sweep, according to ICE sources.
“She came and kissed the kids—and that was the last time we saw her,” Arthur recalled tearfully.
Despite his personal loss, Arthur expressed support for increased vetting of Iranian nationals. “Even though I miss her so much, I get the reasoning,” he said. “If they can speed up the process and see she’s not a radical, then let her go. But I understand wanting to know who’s really here.”
Arthur admitted that the experience has complicated his view of immigration enforcement. “It’s changed my perspective a bit,” he said. “I used to be more selfish about it. Now I see there’s a reason for all of this.”
Even so, he says he won’t be taking down the Trump flags or signs from outside his home. “I’m still supporting him,” Arthur said. “My friends keep telling me, ‘Take the flag down, you’re going through hell.’ But I won’t. The flag still stands.”
In a phone call from detention, Arpineh told her family she’s unsure what will happen next. She said she’s now awaiting transfer to another facility.
ICE issued a statement confirming her arrest:
“On June 30, ICE arrested Arpineh Kamal Masihi, a criminal illegal alien from Iran. She was convicted of burglary in 2008 and sentenced to two years in prison. A final order of removal was issued in 2009. She had over 15 years to depart the U.S. voluntarily. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens will face consequences. They are not welcome in the United States.”
As the Sahakyan family grapples with the fallout, Arthur continues to defend the very policies tearing his family apart—believing that, in the end, the country’s safety is worth the personal cost.
