Reza Zavvar, a 52-year-old Iranian man who has lived in the United States for four decades, faces possible deportation to either Australia or Romania following his recent arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maryland. Zavvar was apprehended near his home while walking his dog, and he currently remains detained in an Ohio prison.
Originally moving to the US from Iran at the age of 12 in 1985, Zavvar has never obtained American citizenship, unlike other family members. Although he possessed a green card in the past, it was revoked in 2004 due to two minor marijuana possession charges from the 1990s. Despite this, he had been granted a non-expulsion order to Iran, allowing him to stay in the US legally.
Court documents reveal that the Department of Homeland Security is proposing to deport Zavvar to Australia or Romania. However, Australian authorities have stated they were not informed about any potential deportation, with a government spokesperson confirming that they had not been contacted by the US regarding this case.
Zavvar’s family, including his mother Firouzeh Firouzabadi, is deeply distressed. Firouzeh described the uncertainty surrounding her son’s fate as “torture,” and his sister Maryam echoed her concerns, expressing frustration and heartbreak over the situation. They insist that Zavvar, who they describe as a kind and non-criminal individual, does not deserve this treatment and that the community is harmed by these actions.
Immigration attorney Ava Beach has also voiced her hope that Zavvar will not be sent to Australia, stressing that the country should not be a destination for non-citizens being deported by the US. As the situation unfolds, Zavvar’s family seeks answers and clarity regarding his looming deportation.