The Christian pastor is speaking after he alleged that federal agents had detained an Iranian-born member of his congregation.
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Pastor Ala Torosian, who is from Cornerstone Church in West Los Angeles, spoke with CBN News about the incident that developed last month, reportedly included authorities detaining an Iranian couple with a three-year-old child. The family is reportedly seeking asylum.
Torosian, a legal citizen who came to the United States as a refugee from Iran in 2010, said he believes that immigrants and those who come to the United States as refugees “mune must respect the law.”
However, he said that the recent detention he witnessed had stumbled him.
“Our church family came to me and recalled, “I have been appointed tomorrow (An) to the Immigration Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. We’re not going?” “As a pastor… I teach them… you have to respect the law. You have to follow the rules and everything, and you have to respect and respect that you are a good citizen from the beginning of your arrival in the United States.”
So the couple took their 3-year-old child with them to an office building where he said they were in custody. Once they noticed the situation, Torosian said he had arrived at the site as soon as possible, but could not help.
“I was very devastated to see,” he said. He said they had papers and they followed the rules, confusing him about what unfolded.
“Usually they go to update their addresses. It’s a process of showing themselves in the office to see what they’re doing. “It’s a regular for asylum seekers. They have documents and they’re waiting for court day and follow-up.”
He said his wife was part of the Iranian underground Christian church and that they came to the United States to escape and find religious freedom.
At the time of Torosian’s conversation with CBN News last week, he was unsure what would happen to the couple and whether the deportation would unfold. Follow-up emails asking for updates have not yet been responded.
It has surrounded Iranian detention in recent weeks amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. Although people are currently unable to report to Iran due to diplomatic hurdles, the Associated Press reported that some Iranians have been sent to other countries.
“Some of the Iranians were deported to Panama,” Torosian said. “So it’s very unknown and we’re really worried about safety and security and their lives.”
The pastor repeatedly expressed his respect for the law, explaining the complexities of people coming to the US border as Iranian refugees.
“I am (a) trying to become the voice of Iranian refugees,” he said. “There are thousands of Iranian refugees awaiting us all around the world, especially in Türkiye and us.”
The Torosian came to America through the Lautenberg Program, an initiative aimed at resettling religious minorities. But he has since led me to come illegally and announce at the border that they are asylum seekers, like a more complicated, difficult, and problematic couple, as they have come illegally and that they are asylum seekers.
An email to the Department of Homeland Security requesting information about this story and comments has not yet been returned to CBN News.
Stories similar to those discussed by Torosian have emerged in the media. One recent incident surrounded Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian, 64, who is being held custody in US immigrants and customs enforcement last month.
The Kashanian has been in the United States for 47 years and is married to a US citizen. She came to the United States on a student visa in 1978, but was not granted asylum. Her lawyers allege that she is said to be compliant as long as she checks in with the immigration officer every year.
She was reportedly released in ice custody after Republican House majority leader Steve Scullyse was involved and advocated her case.
Immigration remains a highly debated and divisive issue, with other cases making headlines. Maurilio Ambrosio, pastor at a small Hispanic church in Florida, was recently deported to Guatemala after being illegally taken to the United States as a teenager.
The five married fathers were reportedly arrested in mid-April for regular check-in at ICE in Tampa. He was said to be allowed to stay in the United States for his removal stay and met with staff every year for more than 20 years until his detention. Click here for details.
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