An Iranian man detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Alabama was released in December after a judge terminated his court proceedings, ending his 5-month confinement in a Louisiana detention center that caused him to miss his child’s birth.
Ribvar Karimi’s case was terminated on December 12, according to his attorney, Michael Shabani.
“We got him out,” Shabani said.
Shabani said an initial immigration judge in Jena, Louisiana granted Karimi’s adjustment of status or green card in November.
Ribvar remained in detention though because the Department of Homeland Security, which argued the case for Karimi’s deportation, filed a motion to re-open the matter but was denied.
DHS argued Ribvar’s deportation on the basis of his military service in Iran which Shabani said the agency never provided evidence for, specifically that he was a member of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC was classified as terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2019.
DHS then filed a notice to appear and was taken up by a Colorado judge. During these second proceedings Ribvar was given a $15,000 bond and was eventually released on Nov. 26.
But Ribvar was required to wear an electronic shackle and make weekly check-ins with an immigration official in Birmingham, Shabani said.
But neither judge was convinced by the government’s arguments for deporting Ribvar.
