Gaithersburg, Maryland – Reza Zavvar, a 52-year-old Iranian American who has resided legally in the United States for 40 years as a green card holder, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on June 28 while walking his dog near his home in Maryland. He has since been transferred to a detention facility in Texas, sparking concern and calls for intervention from his family and advocates.
Zavvar's family expressed distress over his detention, with his sister, Maryam Zavvar, telling NBC4 Washington, "We don't know why he's being held in a detention facility in Texas hundreds of miles away from us with criminals." The family claims deportation orders have been issued to either Romania or Australia, without clear explanation.
According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, ICE Baltimore and CBP arrested Zavvar, whom she described as a "criminal illegal alien from Iran." McLaughlin stated he was convicted of attempted possession of a controlled substance, leading to removal proceedings. Zavvar's attorney clarified that the detention appears linked to a misdemeanor marijuana possession case from the late 1990s.
In October 2007, Zavvar was granted a "withholding of removal" order to Iran, which allowed him to remain and work legally in the U.S. This legal status protects individuals from return to their home country due to fear of persecution but does not provide a path to citizenship or permanent residency and can be re-evaluated by authorities.
Zavvar's case highlights a growing trend of ICE detaining long-term green card holders over old or minor convictions, even if previously resolved. Immigration lawyers note increased scrutiny, with cases like Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipina green card holder detained over a 2001 embezzlement charge, illustrating this shift.
Concerns persist regarding conditions in Texas ICE facilities, which hold the highest number of detainees in the U.S. Reports from organizations like the ACLU have documented allegations of poor conditions and human rights violations in some of these privately-run centers. Zavvar has filed an "Emergency Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus" in the District of Maryland to challenge his detention.
In a tweet bringing attention to the case, Nazanin Nour urged political figures, including Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ted Cruz, and John Cornyn, to "intervene and stop unlawful deportation." The family and supporters continue to seek his release and clarity on the legal basis for his current detention.