Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand/Iran/Illegal Possession of a Firearm

On June 22, ICE officials arrested Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, a citizen of Iran and an illegal alien in the United States, in Tempe, Arizona. Eidivand, who had been living unlawfully in the country for more than a decade, was taken into custody and charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm—an offense that carries both criminal and immigration consequences.

Eidivand initially entered the U.S. in June 2012 through San Ysidro, California. After overstaying his permitted stay, he appeared before an immigration judge in August 2013 and was granted voluntary departure. This order allows certain noncitizens to leave the United States on their own without receiving a formal removal order. However, Eidivand never departed the country as required and subsequently became subject to a final order of removal.

ICE located and arrested Eidivand in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a firearm despite federal law prohibiting illegal aliens from owning or handling firearms. His disregard for immigration orders and federal gun laws adds to the severity of his case.

Eidivand is currently being held in ICE custody, where he will remain pending removal proceedings. Given his failure to depart voluntarily, his illegal possession of a weapon, and the existing removal order, his deportation case has been prioritized by immigration authorities.