U.S. Detains ‘Screaming Mary’ Iranian Propagandist’s Family for Deportation
The family of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, an Iranian propagandist known as “Screaming Mary,” has been detained by U.S. authorities. This action follows the State Department’s decision to revoke their green cards. Hashemi’s family includes his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son.
Background of the Detained Family
Seyed Eissa Hashemi and his wife are educators who worked at The Chicago School in Los Angeles. Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a prominent Iranian politician. Ebtekar gained international attention as the spokesperson for the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, where 52 Americans were held for over a year.
Political Ties
Masoumeh Ebtekar has held significant governmental positions in Iran, including serving as vice president for women and family affairs from 2017 to 2021. Under the Trump administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the decision to allow Hashemi’s family to reside in the U.S., emphasizing that America should not be a refuge for those connected to anti-American activities.
Immigration Status
- Hashemi and his family entered the U.S. on a visa issued in 2014.
- They achieved lawful permanent resident status in 2016 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
- This program was ended by the Trump administration in December 2025.
The Trump administration took steps to terminate the diversity visa lottery following a terror attack in 2017. The diversity lottery was ultimately banned, although it faced legal challenges. The family of Ebtekar is among several with Iranian connections recently deported by U.S. officials.
Recent Deportations
Recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of the deceased Iranian Revolutionary Guard Major General Qasem Soleimani, was also detained. Along with her daughter, she had acquired lawful permanent resident status but was taken into custody amid allegations of support for the regime in Iran.
The State Department has noted that Soleimani Afshar’s comments on social media indicate her support for a totalitarian regime. Furthermore, Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of a former Iranian security chief, has also lost her legal status in the U.S.
Ongoing Political Discussions
Vice President JD Vance recently traveled to Islamabad for discussions concerning the war in Iran. A critical issue on the agenda involves negotiating the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, essential for oil transportation, which is currently affected by tensions with Iran.
