By rssfeeds-admin Sam “Psalm” Behpoor has worked at Pismo’s Coastal Grill for 10 years.
His wife, Lera, says she was shocked when she found out.
“I just started crying,” she explained tearfully. “I cried, screamed.”
She says it’s especially difficult for their three-year-old son.
“It’s very hard that he’s not at the house because I need my husband and [my son] needs his dad,” she said.
This all started after Psalm received a call for an interview at the immigration office in Downtown Fresno.
When he got there, Psalm says he was separated from his attorney and was told:
“‘Don’t take it personal. The last few weeks, we’re focusing on a different mix of people of Asian descent. And now we’re moving towards the Middle East,’ and I thought, ‘What is this guy saying? Like this isn’t even right what he’s saying, it’s not even human.’”
Psalm came to the U.S. from Iran and received a green card when he was 13.
A few years later, he served time for non-aggravated burglary and took a plea deal.
“There were immigration consequences that I was unaware of,” he explained. “I didn’t know this, but the permanent residency is permanent unless… and that unless falls into you commit a felony.”
In September of 2024, Psalm started the months-long process to reinstate his green card.
He says he finished submitting his documents in May of 2025.
“You’re taking me away from my family, from my son and my wife,” he said. “It’s hard to talk about because I don’t know what I’m feeling. It’s a mixture of pain, sadness, anger, doubt, lies. There’s just so many emotions that go through my head.”
Associate Attorney at Cook & Olsen George Rios says case law changes all the time, but California’s current stance on Psalm’s crime is clear:
“The California statute for burglary is not considered a crime of violence or an aggravated felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. So therefore, it’s not necessarily a crime that makes you deportable, meaning that having that on your record does not make you subject to being placed in front of an immigration judge. Now that may not have always been the case over the years,” he explained.
Rios also says Psalm could have been referred to an immigrant judge at some point, but he may not have received the notice. That would have prompted officials to order his removal.
Ultimately, he says the variability is what makes immigration cases so tricky.
“This is a contributing member of the community. Pismo’s, everybody knows Pismo’s,” Rios explained. “It could have been his criminal history. It could have also been that has nothing to do with it, but when they were running names, it pinged his because he does have a criminal history. So that might have been what put him on ICE’s radar. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s the main reason why he’s now being detained.”
For now, the Behpoor family hopes the Board of Immigration Appeals will reopen his case so Psalm can return to his community.
“My husband works so hard. Not because he has to, but because he genuinely loves to. He’s just not an exceptional husband and father but also is an incredible friend to everyone,” Lera explained. “He has a profound impact on the Fresno community. He’s a good Samaritan and he’s lived in America for over 39 years. He is as American, as any American born here.”
Both say they are grateful for all the support.
“Psalm plays a really important role at Pismo’s. A lot of people come to see him because he leaves a good impression and he helps everyone,” Lera said with a smile. “Our customers and the Fresno community has been reaching out and asking how he is, and they’re praying for him and praying for us.”
Psalm said, “It makes me feel really good because I love our community; I love our Fresno community. The relationships that I’ve gained over time. It’s why I thrive in hospitality because I genuinely care and genuinely love people.”
To help their family, click here.
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