Immigration Roulette: Husband Granted Asylum, Wife Locked Up Awaiting Deportation
An Iranian couple seeking refuge in the United States faces a cruel new form of family separation. The post Immigration Roulette: Husband Granted Asylum, Wife Locked Up Awaiting Deportation appeared first on The Intercept .
An Iranian couple, seeking asylum in the United States, have been separated for over a year after receiving conflicting asylum rulings. Mohammadjamal Azizi, known as Liam, was granted asylum, while his wife, Hannaneh Alikaram, remains detained. The couple fled Iran in late 2024 due to persecution for converting to Christianity. They were arrested in March 2024 by Iranian pro-government militia during a home church gathering.
Alikaram has been held in detention for 21 months, while Azizi has been free in Los Angeles, raising funds for legal fees and fighting for her release. The U.S. asylum system, known as "immigration roulette," allows spouses of asylum seekers to receive derivative asylum, but many are still detained, causing emotional distress for families separated by the system.
The couple is currently petitioning for derivative asylum and habeas corpus to secure Alikaram's release, citing her eligibility as the spouse of an asylum-granted individual.
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