Mahmoud Shafiei/Iran/Assault, Child Abuse

On June 22, ICE officials arrested Mahmoud Shafiei, an illegally present Iranian national, at a residence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shafiei has a long and troubling history in the United States, with criminal convictions and a decades-old final order of removal. He remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

Shafiei was first encountered by U.S. immigration authorities in January 1981 in Seattle, Washington. An immigration judge ordered him removed from the country in January 1987, but he never left. Since then, he has lived unlawfully in the United States, evading removal for nearly 40 years. His criminal record includes both state and federal convictions for drug-related offenses, as well as arrests for assault and child abuse. These charges reflect a repeated disregard for U.S. law and public safety.

Despite a lawful order requiring his deportation, Shafiei continued to remain in the country without authorization. ICE located and apprehended him during a targeted enforcement operation focused on illegal aliens with significant criminal histories. At the time of his arrest, he had no legal immigration status and was not authorized to remain in the United States.

Shafiei will remain detained in ICE custody while his removal proceedings are finalized. His history of serious criminal conduct and noncompliance with immigration law make him a priority for enforcement and removal under current policies.