American Dream on pause: Pismo's restaurant manager detained by ICE

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Sam "Psalm" Behpoor was surviving retired his American imagination with his family, moving arsenic the manager of Pismo's successful Northwest Fresno for 10 years until helium was detained by ICE connected June 23rd.

His woman and three-year-old lad are present near wondering astir their family's future.

"My lad has been stressed asking for his dad. He's been going to his toys and teddy bears and saying dada and kissing," Behpoor's woman Lera said.

Psalm was the aforesaid property arsenic his lad erstwhile helium came to the States seeking asylum from Iran.

He says helium aboriginal served clip for non-aggravated burglary erstwhile helium was 18 years old, implicit 20 years ago, which is nary longer considered a deportable felony.

In May, helium filed paperwork to reinstate his greenish paper and proceed his way to citizenship.

"I'm American, I am. I emotion this country. I'm fortunate for the accidental to beryllium here," Behpoor explained. "God knows if this state didn't prevention me, what I would beryllium and I'm atrocious for the mistake I've made, but I conscionable don't consciousness similar the effect fits the situation."

Behpoor joined Action News by telephone from the Mesa Verde ICE detention halfway successful Bakersfield, wherever he's been held for astir 2 months.

Back successful June, helium says helium received a telephone from ICE asking him for an in-person interview.

"They told maine that they were fixed instructions that I wasn't being singled out. This period their extremity was radical of my descent," Behpoor recalled. "When we got down there, instantly arsenic we locomotion successful the door, they separated my lawyer from me."

His wife, Lera, says astir an hr later, she got a telephone saying her hubby was detained.

"It was precise emotional, I didn't deliberation helium was going to go," Lera said portion crying.

His household hopes the committee of migration appeals reopens his lawsuit truthful his way to citizenship tin continue.

But for now, determination is nary knowing erstwhile helium could instrumentality home.

"That I volition dice for this and I won't ever spot my household again. That's my biggest fear," Behpoor said done tears.

Action News did scope retired to ICE for comment, but arsenic of Tuesday afternoon, person not heard back.

Lera says each due motions person been filed with migration appeals and his lawyers are assured that erstwhile the lawsuit is reopened, helium tin beryllium a lawful citizen.

Friends of Behpoor person acceptable up a GoFundMe to screen bills and ineligible fees arsenic helium is the sole supplier for his family.

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