Family says ICE detained Iranian woman who’s lived in US for almost five decades

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Kaitlynn Milne said her mother went from gardening her yard to being taken away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a matter of minutes outside of her Lakeview home.

“She doesn’t deserve this and we are scared,” said Kaitlynn Milne and Sarah Gerig.

Family and friends of Mandonna Kashanian are trying to wrap their heads around why ICE took her after living in the United States for 47 years with no criminal record.

Gerig and her husband watched it all happen in real-time, stating ICE agents gave no explanation.

“When I, we saw her getting taken, I mean, it was our one of our worst fears, but we were shocked,” Gerig said. “I mean, it was in front of her house, and she, she was in her yard. My husband ran out to try to talk to her.”

Her daughter, Milne, says she was able to track her mother’s phone to know where she was.

Kashanian was taken to a jail in Hancock County, Mississippi, then transferred to Jena and Basile, Louisiana detention centers.

“We’ve been able to call back and forth now that she’s settled at the seal, she sounds okay,” Milne said. “She’s more concerned for me and my dad. But we’re just trying to do everything we can to get her out.”

Originally Kashanian came to the U.S. on a student visa at the age of 17.

She reportedly applied for asylum countless times but was denied.

Milne says in 1978, a judge granted her mother a stay of deportation, which allowed her to remain in the U.S. under supervision.

“She checks in regularly,” Milne said. “She had her next appointment on July 21. The only appointment that she might not have been able to walk through the door for was 2024 when they were saying no one can come in to make an appointment online.”

However, that is being disputed by ICE, who claims she was ordered by a judge to leave the U.S. and did not. Milne said now they are looking for an immigration attorney to represent her.

“They’re going over her file and telling us if they have the capacity to handle that case or not. And unfortunately, we’ve gotten more no’s than yeses. They’re trying to see what they can work out,” said Milne.

Milne says they are working with legislators for help and are waiting to hear back on when they can visit her.

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