Fact Check: Did ICE detain an Iranian family because of the grandmother’s role during the 1979 hostage crisis?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.


Claimant: Social Media


Claim: ICE detained Eissa Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi and their teenage son because Hashemi’s mother had served as a spokesperson for the Iranian government during the 1979 hostage crisis.


Rating: TRUE


Explanation: Tahmasebi said ICE detained her husband, then her and their teenage son, despite the family having no criminal record and living in the U.S. as permanent residents with valid green cards. She described the detention as “bloodline punishment” connected to her mother-in-law’s role as a translator during the 1979 hostage crisis.


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Date: 08/23/2026


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Last Updated on August 23, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check