Dear Beloved of the Lord,

We’re writing to share a full and comprehensive update on Brother Mehrdad—what has happened over these many months, what the Immigration Court has now decided, and what we believe the next steps may be.

Many of you have stood with him in ways that have deeply touched us. Christians have visited him regularly while in prison, prayed for him, written letters of encouragement, fasted, and given sacrificially toward his expensive legal fees. Your love for our brother has been heartfelt, and we are truly thankful to God for it. It has strengthened Mehrdad and us. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus, willing to serve.

This letter is intended to provide our partners with a clear and comprehensive picture of what we have been walking through spiritually, emotionally, and legally.

WHO MEHRDAD IS — AND WHY THIS MATTERS

Brother Mehrdad is a dear brother in the Lord—an ex-Muslim Iranian believer whose faith has been tested at great cost. Long before this detention began, Mehrdad had already chosen a costly path by following Jesus openly and serving faithfully in Iran.

We first met him during one of ICI’s conferences. His commitment to the Lord and his love for people were prevalent. During that conference, he connected with one of ICI’s staff members, who became his mentor and helped him in his walk with the Lord. Later, as a result of that relationship and showing much growth and trustworthiness, Mehrdad helped lead one of ICI’s underground Christian print efforts in a conservative Muslim city in Iran. He printed and distributed hundreds of gospel tracts, Christian books, and evangelistic resources to house churches and others. He rode through the streets on his motorcycle with Bibles and Gospel materials in his shoulder bag, praying for the Holy Spirit to guide him safely to each destination. On one of these journeys, after being struck by a car and bleeding heavily from his head, Mehrdad’s first instinct wasn’t to call for help or even to tend to his own injuries; it was to hide the Gospel tracts in his shoulder bag. He knew that if they were discovered, the consequences could be far more severe than the accident itself.

Between 2021 and 2023, Mehrdad participated in every ICI evangelistic outreach in Turkey, ministering boldly among Iranian Muslims. As his Christian activity became more visible, pressure began to build back home. Iranian intelligence agents came to his workplace, questioning people and looking for witnesses while gathering evidence to build a case against him.

At one point, he also received an anonymous phone call from the soldiers of Mahdi threatening him, saying, “Your blood will be spilled, and it’s on you.” Because of his evangelistic work—both outside and inside Iran—threats and intimidation intensified, and Mehrdad realized he could no longer remain safely in Iran.

In 2023, he made a dangerous journey to the United States, crossing eight countries on foot, bus, boat, motorcycle, and truck, walking for long stretches through the Amazon jungle, and ultimately crossing the Rio Grande. He thought that when he arrived in America, fear and persecution would end; instead, the battle followed him. After spending two months in a Texas detention center, we welcomed him into our Colorado Springs home. For a year and a half, he lived with us, served faithfully in our ministry, and prepared for his asylum hearing.

THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED – DETENTION

On June 22, 2025, around 3:00 p.m., everything changed. The FBI came to our home, surrounded it, detained Mehrdad, and he was taken into ICE custody.

We were stunned, in a way that is hard to put into words. Some of our neighbors witnessed the confrontation from their windows, and since that day, the atmosphere has changed. Our neighbors who once greeted us warmly have become awkward and cautious around us. When we pull into our driveways at the same time, they often stay in their cars until we go inside, or hurry into their homes, as if they don’t know what to think after seeing the FBI at our home in the neighborhood. One neighbor, whom we used to hang out with, later messaged expressing concern about racial profiling and worried that associating with us could “get him on a list.”

This sweep happened in the immediate aftermath of last year’s twelve-day war between Israel, Iran, and the United States. Just one day earlier, the U.S. had deployed B-2 bombers against Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, the Iranian regime publicly announced it would activate ‘sleeper cells’ inside America. That threat sent shockwaves through U.S. intelligence agencies. Mehrdad’s detention took place amid heightened national security concerns.

That day marked the beginning of a long road of court dates, legal filings, evidence gathering, and urgent prayer, week after week. And Mehrdad remained behind bars.

One of the hardest parts has been watching a brother who came seeking safety endure another form of suffering: separation, uncertainty, delays, and the emotional toll of prolonged detention. Yet even in prison, he continues to seek the Lord and hold on to hope.

MONTHS OF HEARINGS — THE UPS AND DOWNS

Over these many months, Mehrdad’s case moved through a series of hearings, bond requests, postponements, and procedural difficulties.

AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2025

In the first hearings, the judge sustained the government’s claims that Mehrdad was not “admitted” into the U.S. or “paroled”, and that he did not enter with a visa or border-crossing card; issues tied to entry paperwork. However, he was paroled to our custody, and we presented their paperwork back to them that Mehrdad did have interim parole authorization, and that a visa or border-crossing card was never an available option for Iranians through the government app used at the southern border. Multiple bond attempts were denied because he was deemed a flight risk.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 — CONFUSION AND COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

A serious misunderstanding occurred. Mehrdad’s attorney was informed by the judge’s clerk that a continuance motion had been approved and that no hearing would take place that day. However, the hearing proceeded, and the attorney did not appear because of that misinformation. This created further complications at an already critical stage of the case. We were also notified that important documentation, including his asylum application, had not been properly uploaded to the court file.

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2025 — NEW JUDGE, MORE DELAY

A new judge was assigned after we challenged the previous judge’s repeated bias.

But on the “final” hearing date (October 22), something very unusual happened: a technical issue prevented the judge from hearing the attorney properly via video, and the hearing was postponed again, by another 40 days. We were hoping Mehrdad would be out for Thanksgiving; the delay pushed us toward Christmas.

DECEMBER 2025: POSTPONED AGAIN

The December 8 hearing was postponed again; a new date was set for January 9, 2026. By now, Mehrdad has been in custody for six months.

JANUARY 9, 2026: A HEARING, BUT NO WITNESSES

The hearing lasted about 2.5 hours, but due to limited time and the court’s heavy docket, the witnesses were not permitted to testify that day, and the case was carried over to the next hearing.

JANUARY 23, 2026: THE FINAL HEARING – TESTIMONY AND CLOSING ARGUMENTS

On January 23, the final hearing resumed at 8:30 AM. The judge allowed supporters to attend, even though the DHS attorney objected. Mehrdad testified and faced cross-examination. The DHS attorney tried to find inconsistencies. Instead, the more questions asked, the clearer it became that Mehrdad’s testimony was consistent.

I (Mohamad) was also called to testify about Mehrdad’s character, his faith, and the danger he would face if returned to Iran. During cross-examination, the DHS attorney attempted to discredit my testimony by finding online articles about me. The challenge did not stand.

In the closing arguments, the DHS attorney argued that because Mehrdad had not been physically harmed or arrested during the years he lived as a Christian in Iran, he could safely return. The judge corrected that claim and clarified that this was not the standard being decided. He then read from U.S. immigration law explaining what an asylum applicant must prove. Mehrdad’s attorney presented the case for protection based on a well-founded fear of future persecution.

The judge concluded the hearing by stating that he would review everything and issue a written decision in about two months.

MARCH 26, 2026: THE COURT’S WRITTEN DECISION
The Immigration Court issued the following written decision:
Asylum: Denied
Withholding of Removal: Granted (meaning the United States cannot remove Mehrdad to Iran)
CAT (Convention Against Torture): Held in abeyance (not decided)

This decision brought both heartbreak and gratitude. We were deeply disappointed that asylum was denied. At the same time, we are profoundly thankful that withholding of removal was granted, because it means Mehrdad is legally protected from being sent back to Iran.

The judge found Mehrdad’s testimony credible and recognized the grave dangers Christian converts face in Iran, concluding he faces a clear probability of persecution if returned.

WHY ASYLUM WAS DENIED (IN PLAIN WORDS) — AND WHY THAT IS NOT A CONTRADICTION

Many partners have asked: If the judge believed Mehrdad is in danger, why was asylum denied?
Withholding of removal is protection from being sent back to a specific country where the court recognizes you could be persecuted, and logically, that should have been the verdict.

However, in Mehrdad’s case, asylum was denied under a specific policy framework tied to how and when he entered the United States after traveling through Mexico, rules that create a presumption against asylum eligibility in certain circumstances. The court concluded that this presumption was not overcome in his case.

Although Mehrdad was denied asylum, the Judge did not conclude that he is safe in Iran. The court found his testimony credible and acknowledged the real danger Christian converts face.

By granting withholding of removal, the Judge confirmed this danger. Therefore, both can be true: he was not granted asylum, but he remains legally protected from deportation to Iran.

WHAT WITHHOLDING MEANS

Withholding of removal is protection. It means the government cannot return Mehrdad to Iran. However, withholding does not place Mehrdad on a path to a green card or permanent status, and a removal order can remain.

Following this decision, immigration officials will try to seek a third country to which they can remove him. They are given an initial 90 days to find such a country. If they are unsuccessful, they can entertain another 90-day extension. This means Mehrdad could potentially remain in detention for up to another six months while immigration officials exhaust these options – even though no realistic third country is available or willing to accept Iranians as far as we know.

Now that the court has issued its decision, we are pressing for Mehrdad’s supervised release so he can live outside of detention and fully comply with all immigration supervision requirements.

NEXT STEPS

If U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not grant Mehrdad’s release within the legal timeframe, our attorney has advised that we may need to file a habeas corpus petition in federal court. We have been told this step could cost around $10,000 USD in legal fees and related expenses. We are sharing this so you can pray with a full understanding of what may be required in the next phase.

A request: Government or DHS Connections

If you personally know someone who works within DHS, ICE, or a congressional office that handles immigration casework, and you believe they may be able to help advocate for supervised release, please feel free to reach out to us directly.

THINGS TO PRAY

• Thanksgiving that Mehrdad has been protected from deportation to Iran and that the court affirmed his credibility and the danger he faces there.
• Favor that ICE would grant supervised release quickly.
• Wisdom and strength for Mehrdad and for us as we pursue the best path forward.

WHAT RELEASE COULD LOOK LIKE

If ICE grants supervised release (or if a federal judge orders it), Mehrdad would live at an approved address, check in with ICE, and follow all conditions. By God’s grace, he already has work authorization and a Social Security number, which would help him rebuild his life and support himself while remaining fully compliant.

Again, THANK YOU for the love you have shown to our brother. The care extended to Mehrdad through visits, prayer, fasting, and generosity has been a powerful reminder that the body of Christ is real, present, and compassionate. Please continue to stand with us as we seek the Lord for the next step and wait for further concrete developments.

With much love,

Mohamad Amin & Susan Faridi