‘If he goes back to Iran, they’re going to kill him’: Iranian national, U.S. permanent resident in ICE custody

SEATTLE — Milad Aspari is a green card holder and a United States legal permanent resident.

He’s a father to a U.S. citizen daughter. And he’s currently incarcerated in the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center in Tacoma. He was arrested Feb. 20.

The possibility of deportation is threatening his life.

“If he goes back to Iran, they’re going to kill him for sure because of religion,” said Ruth, his girlfriend.

Ruth, whose identity we are hiding because she fears for her safety because she is also a green card holder, said Aspari fled religious and political persecution from the Islamic Republic because he is Kurdish. Kurds are an ethnic and religious minority in Iran. 

His entire family, including his mother, was killed in recent years for speaking out against the government.

This is something Voice of Iran board member Karla Mohtashemi is familiar with.

“Islamic Republic, first of all, they don’t like Kurdish people,” Mohtashemi said. “Secondly, anybody that speaks out about the government, or is a different religion other than Muslim – it’s called ‘corruption on Earth.'”

Mohtashemi said deportation for Aspari may as well be a death sentence.

“The judge has blood on his hands,” Mohtashemi said. “If he goes back to Iran he will be killed.”

Ruth said Aspari’s arrest started with a wrong turn. Aspari and his coworkers, working two miles from the U.S.-Canadian border had to make a U-turn after crossing over to Canada by accident. His employer wrote a letter to federal agents explaining the mistake that said the road construction signs were confusing.

“They sent them back to the U.S. border,” Ruth said. “They said, ‘You were fleeing from the country, running away from the country, because there’s a no-contact order for you and you’re not allowed to leave the country.'”

Ruth said the no-contact order stems from a verbal argument she had with him three years ago. She said that was the day they found out Aspari’s mother was killed. Neighbors called the police.

Aspari was booked into jail and later bonded out after signing paperwork she said he did not understand because of a language barrier. The paperwork essentially convicted him of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Ruth vehemently denied any assault happened. 

“Nothing happened,” Ruth said. “He’s not dangerous. We love each other so much.” 

Ruth said she’s been fighting to nullify the no-contact order without success. Now that single misdemeanor conviction is the reason Aspari may be sent back to Iran. 

She’s hoping her message will land in the right ears. She’s fighting Aspari’s deportation, because she said it is a matter of life or death for the father of her child.

“He’s human,” Ruth said. “He deserves to live longer he deserves to stay with his daughter, and his daughter needs to see him too.”

Aspari’s next immigration hearing date is Wednesday.