Studio City man rallies community behind wife detained by ICE – NBC Los Angeles

Hooshang Aghdassi, a Studio City business owner, says he is overwhelmed with anguish since his wife was detained by ICE nearly a month ago.

Sharereh Moghadam was taken into custody after attending an in-person immigration meeting, which she thought was a step closer to citizenship, according to Aghdassi. Instead, she was transferred to a detention center in Phoenix, Arizona.

“She had green card and passed exam for citizenship and was waiting for the ceremony,” said Aghdassi. “She is not a bank robber or thief or criminal.”

Aghdassi says Sharareh was born in Iran and entered the country legally with her documents in order. He believes a recent trip to Iran is the reason behind her detention.

ICE has since rejected Aghdassi’s claims, stating that Moghaddam had no criminal history.

“Reports that Sharareh Moghaddam has no criminal history are completely FALSE and are only being used to try garner support for a thief. Sharareh Moghaddam is neither a citizen nor a national of the United States. She is an Iranian native and citizen with a documented criminal history dating back to 2015. Moghaddam entered the United States at an unknown time and location in 2014 and obtained lawful status in 2016. Despite being granted the opportunity to remain in the country, between August 2015 and May 9, 2019, Moghaddam was convicted of two separate theft offenses, demonstrating a clear disregard for U.S. laws and rendering her subject to removal under U.S. immigration law,” wrote an ICE spokesperson in a statement to NBC4.

The Iranian couple runs a balloon shop along Laurel Canyon, which has gained the community’s support over the last few weeks. Customers have begun signing a petition requesting that lawmakers step in before Moghadam’s next hearing.

In the meantime, Aghdassi says he is clinging to hope that one day he will be reunited with his wife.

“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. You don’t feel secure anymore,” said Aghdassi.

The recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California are part of President Trump’s campaign promise to carry out a mass deportation plan.

Through Aug. 31, nearly 60,930 migrants had been taken into ICE detention since the start of President Trump’s second term, according to NBC News, which used ICE data both public and internal as well as data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. About 29% of those in detention had criminal convictions; 25.6% had pending criminal charges; 45% were listed as “other immigration violator;” and 11.6% were fast-tracked for deportation.

According to DHS, at least 5,000 people have been arrested in Los Angeles alone.