California Man Defends Trump After ICE Detains His Wife

When federal agents came knocking at the Sahakyan family home on June 30, they took more than just a mother and wife into custody — they reignited a national conversation about loyalty, legality, and love of country.

But Arthu Sahakyan isn’t backing down.

“I still fly that Trump flag,” the California man told Fox 11, gesturing to the towering American and Trump 2024 banners fluttering outside his suburban home. “Because this is still the greatest country on Earth — and we have laws for a reason.”

His wife, Arpineh Masihi, a 38-year-old mother of three, was one of more than 130 Iranian nationals swept up in an ICE operation last week, following heightened national security concerns after the U.S. military launched a precision strike against high-level Iranian targets overseas. Federal officials have since warned about potential threats from foreign actors, especially from nations identified as hostile to U.S. interests.

Masihi arrived in the United States legally as a child refugee with her family, fleeing religious persecution in Iran. Like many others who came here seeking safety, she built a life — but it wasn’t without complications. In 2010, Masihi was convicted of petty theft, an offense her husband claims involved less than $200 worth of goods. That conviction ultimately cost her permanent residency.

“She made a mistake when she was younger, but she’s been trying to fix it for years,” Sahakyan said. “She never missed a check-in. She cooperated. We thought we were moving forward.”

For more than a decade, Masihi worked to restore her legal status, checking in regularly with immigration officials. That process abruptly ended Monday morning when ICE agents arrived unannounced and detained her.

Sahakyan, an Armenian-American small business owner, didn’t hesitate to defend the very immigration system that upended his life.

“I miss her. Of course I do,” he said. “But I also understand why this is happening. I used to be selfish — I thought, ‘this doesn’t apply to us.’ But now I see, if we want a secure country, we need to enforce the law consistently.”

The arrest has stirred mixed reactions in their Los Angeles community — but Sahakyan’s loyalty to President Trump hasn’t wavered. In fact, his family had proudly supported Trump’s campaign last year, decking their home in red MAGA hats and banners. Even their three young sons wore matching Trump gear during campaign events.

One emotional clip aired by Fox showed the couple’s eldest child in tears as his mother was taken away. But for Sahakyan, the broader principle remains unchanged.

“President Trump isn’t out to hurt families. He’s doing what he thinks is best for the country — and I agree with him,” he said. “This isn’t personal. It’s national security.”

The Biden administration had previously loosened enforcement on green card revocations tied to old convictions. Under Trump, those policies were reversed, reestablishing stricter guidelines that prioritize removals based on criminal records — regardless of how much time has passed.

Critics of the operation call it overly broad and accuse ICE of targeting peaceful families. Supporters say it’s a necessary step to prevent bad actors from slipping through the cracks — especially during tense geopolitical moments.

Masihi’s legal fate is unclear. She is reportedly being transferred to a detention facility outside of California, with immigration attorneys scrambling to halt a possible deportation.

For Sahakyan, the pain is real — but so is his conviction.

“I’m not angry at Trump. I’m not even angry at ICE. They’re doing their job,” he said. “If we want to keep this country safe, we have to be strong. Even when it hurts.”

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Editor’s Note: The Sahakyan family has launched a legal fund to assist with Masihi’s immigration case. ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment.