Hamid Reza Bayat/Iran/Drug Crimes

Hamid Reza Bayat, a citizen of Iran and an illegal alien in the United States, was arrested by ICE officials in Houston nearly two decades after receiving a final order of removal. Bayat was first ordered removed by an immigration judge on August 4, 2005, following a series of criminal convictions. Despite that order, Bayat failed to depart the country and remained unlawfully present.

Bayat’s criminal history includes two separate convictions for drug-related offenses, as well as a conviction for driving with a suspended license. These offenses resulted in time served in the U.S. criminal justice system prior to the initiation of formal immigration removal proceedings. After completing his sentences, Bayat was issued a final order of removal by the immigration court; however, he evaded deportation for years, violating the terms of the removal order.

At the time of his recent arrest in Houston, Bayat had no legal status in the United States and had not taken any lawful steps to resolve his immigration situation since the 2005 ruling. He is currently being held in ICE custody, where he will remain pending the execution of his long-standing removal order.