Rubio Moves to Deport Family of Iran Hostage Crisis Spokeswoman

Secretary of State terminates legal status of three Iranians tied to 'Screaming Mary' Ebtekar

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:12pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in shades of blue, grey, and red, representing the turbulent history of U.S.-Iran relations and the deportation of individuals connected to the Iran Hostage Crisis.The administration's deportation of Iranian nationals tied to the 1979 hostage crisis underscores its hardline stance against Iran and its supporters, even those residing in the U.S.Los Angeles Today

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated the legal status of three Iranian nationals tied to Masoumeh Ebtekar, the spokeswoman for the militants behind the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979. The individuals, including Ebtekar's son Seyed Eissa Hashemi, are now in ICE custody and facing deportation from the United States.

Why it matters

The Iran Hostage Crisis was a defining moment in U.S.-Iran relations that continues to shape policy decades later. Ebtekar, known as 'Screaming Mary,' became the public face of the hostage-takers, appearing repeatedly on American television to defend the operation. This move signals the administration's intent to take a harder line not just against Iran's government, but against those connected to it, even if they are residing in the U.S.

The details

Rubio said he terminated the lawful permanent resident status of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son, placing them in ICE custody and initiating their removal from the country. Hashemi had been living in Southern California, working as a psychology professor, while his family resided in Los Angeles County. Public pressure had been building for months, with petitions and protests calling for federal authorities to review the immigration status of Hashemi and others connected to Iran's ruling apparatus.

  • On April 11, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the termination of the legal status of the three Iranian nationals.

The players

Marco Rubio

The current Secretary of State who terminated the legal status of the three Iranian nationals tied to Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Masoumeh Ebtekar

Also known as 'Screaming Mary,' she was the spokeswoman for the militants who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979.

Seyed Eissa Hashemi

Ebtekar's son who had been living in Southern California, working as a psychology professor, while his family resided in Los Angeles County.

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What they’re saying

“I terminated their lawful permanent resident status and today, Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending their removal from our country.”

— Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

“Her family should never have been allowed to benefit from the extraordinary privilege of living in our country. America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families.”

— Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

What’s next

The individuals are now in ICE custody and facing deportation from the United States.

The takeaway

This move by the Secretary of State sends a strong message that the administration is taking a hardline stance not just against Iran's government, but also against those connected to it, even if they are residing in the U.S. It reflects the lasting impact of the Iran Hostage Crisis on U.S. foreign policy towards Iran.