Family and friends seek assistance as longtime Chicagoan faces deportation

CHICAGO (WGN) —  Family, friends, and co-workers rallied Monday to support an ICE detainee who was taken into custody last month on Chicago’s North Side.

The Iranian-born man, who has lived in Chicago for decades, now faces deportation.

ICE agents arrested Seyed Reza Minaey just outside his Northside home on Thursday, July 10, his family told WGN-TV. They now fear that deportation will be a death sentence for the 67-year-old detainee. 

“He is not someone who is dangerous. He is not a threat to the community,” said son Jonathan Minaey, who, along with other concerned family members, pleaded for help.  

“He’s been a hard worker. He’s had businesses. (He’s) never taken government assistance and paid his taxes.”

Employer David Falato said over the last 10 years, he has considered Minaey an invaluable member of the Jets Pizza team.

“The guy is like the hardest worker,” Falato said. “He can always be counted on. He does a ton of extra stuff for us.

“He’s a good soul. He’s a good person. He belongs in this country.”

The community rallying in support of Minaey hopes to raise the thousands needed to retain an immigration lawyer, as the beloved 67-year-old, who takes medication after heart surgery, sits inside a Clay County, Indiana, jail cell hoping to file a last-minute appeal.

Minaey’s repeated attempts to gain political asylum fell short after his lawyer died, his family said.

While some launched a letter-writing campaign, others have offered to sponsor Minaey.

“We’re just hoping to get a fair shot at getting him his visa and his green card,” Jonathan Minaey said.

The family shared that the elder Minaey took part in a protest against the repressive Islamist regime, which forced him to flee to Turkey and later to America. Those reasons, the family adds, are why they’re concerned that Minaey’s safety should be deported, out of fear he’ll be sent to Sudan.

WGN-TV reached out to ICE spokespeople for comment.  

ICE has not yet responded.