His Wife Spent 187 Days In ICE Detention — Yet This MAGA Husband Says He'd Still Vote Trump 'In A Heartbeat'

The husband of an Iranian-born mother taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says his allegiance to Donald Trump is unshaken, even after his wife spent more than six months in detention. Their story, unfolding in a quiet suburb of Los Angeles County, has become a striking example of how political loyalty can endure through some of the most personal and painful consequences of immigration enforcement.

The family from Diamond Bar has emerged as an unlikely symbol of unwavering support for the former president's immigration policies despite profound hardship at home. The mother, Arpineh Masihi, was detained by federal agents as part of an expanded enforcement operation, leaving her husband, Arthu Sahakyan, to care for their four young children alone.

For Sahakyan, the ordeal has not eroded his political commitments. He has publicly maintained his support for Trump and his hard-line approach to immigration enforcement, even as he struggles with separation from his wife and the uncertainty surrounding her legal fate.

The Enforcement Action and Its Legal Backdrop

On 30 June 2025, Masihi was taken into ICE custody outside her family home following a scheduled immigration check-in, according to interviews with local television.

Masihi, 39, was born in Iran and arrived in the United States at the age of three as a refugee with her family. Her legal residency was later revoked after a conviction for burglary and grand theft in 2008, which resulted in a two-year prison sentence. An immigration judge ordered her removal, a decision that set the stage for her eventual detention under heightened enforcement priorities.

Federal officials have said Masihi's case was part of a broader series of enforcement actions against Iranian nationals, a step that came amid heightened geopolitical tensions and concerns over national security. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that individuals with criminal records who lack lawful status are subject to removal, a position endorsed by the Trump administration's enforcement agenda.

In phone calls from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California's Mojave Desert, Masihi described her situation as 'very challenging' but insisted she understood the rationale behind immigration enforcement, according to sources with direct interview transcripts.

'In a Heartbeat': Family Loyalty Meets Political Faith

Despite the emotional strain of separation, Sahakyan has repeatedly affirmed his loyalty to Trump and the wider MAGA movement. He says he understands why federal authorities acted as they did and continues to believe that tougher immigration measures are necessary for national safety.

'Trump is not trying to do anything bad,' Sahakyan told FOX 11 Los Angeles. 'We understand what he's doing. He wants the best for the country,' he said, underscoring his belief in the president's intentions even as his family endures hardship.

Sahakyan has maintained visible political symbols outside his home, refusing requests from friends to remove Trump flags and signs. 'I'm still supporting [Trump],' he said, adding that he would continue to display the family's allegiance to conservative leadership.

Masihi herself, from inside detention, has echoed her husband's tone, telling the BBC that she would 'support him until the day I die' and that she believed he was 'making America great again', according to firsthand interview accounts.

Observers of the case say the family's stance exemplifies the depth of commitment among a segment of Trump's base who view immigration enforcement as a cornerstone of national policy, even when it intersects with personal tragedy.

Legal advocates note that Masihi's past conviction complicated her path to legal residency, and that her continued support for the administration's policies highlights the complex and sometimes paradoxical nature of immigration politics in the United States.

Broader Implications And Public Reaction

The case has drawn national attention for its emotional intensity and the political paradox it presents: a family directly affected by a policy yet not repudiating it. Advocates for immigrant rights have argued that stories like Masihi's reveal the human cost of strict enforcement, particularly for long-term residents who have deep community ties.

Legal experts say that the U.S. immigration court system is fraught with backlogs and procedural complexity, often leaving individuals in legal limbo for years. Masihi's detention, extended over months, reflects broader systemic issues as well as policy choices.

Some supporters of the Trump agenda argue that consistent application of immigration law is essential for rule of law and national security, and point to cases such as this to argue that even sympathetic situations should not undermine legal frameworks. Critics counter that enforcement must be balanced with humanitarian considerations, particularly for individuals who have built roots and families in the United States.

Ultimately, Masihi's prolonged detention and her husband's unyielding support for Trump illustrate a deeply polarised national discourse on immigration, loyalty and the interplay between personal belief and policy impact.

The family's experience continues to resonate across political divides, prompting reflection on how enforcement priorities affect everyday lives and how unwavering political allegiance can persist even in the face of personal hardship.

Sahakyan has made clear that, despite his family's ordeal, his political commitment will not waver.