ICE Detains Iranian Mom After Pre-Dawn Raid

Community rallies for release of beloved cook, volunteer

In New Orleans, a mother known for her community work and Persian cooking YouTube channel was abruptly detained by ICE agents. The family of Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian is now fighting for her release.

Early Morning Arrest

Kashanian, 64, was in her yard early on June 22nd when plainclothes ICE agents approached and arrested her, according to her family. A neighbor witnessed the arrest and alerted Kashanian’s husband, Russell Milne, and daughter, Kaitlynn Milne.

Russell said that without the neighbor’s alert, “we would not have known she was taken.” The agents arrived in unmarked cars and seemingly watched the property until Kashanian was alone outside.

An hour after the arrest, Kashanian managed to call her family, telling them she was being taken to a holding center in Mississippi, before being transferred to Louisiana. There were no further calls with the family until the following Tuesday.

A Pillar of the Community

Prior to her detention, Donna Kashanian led an active life of service. According to her daughter, Kaitlynn, “She was constantly around…always helping the teachers and custodial staff, anything to be supportive. Everyone knew Kaitlynn’s mom.”

Kashanian has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Nola Tree Project. She also ran the YouTube channel “Mandonna in the Kitchen.”

She arrived in the U.S. in 1978 on a student visa, later seeking asylum due to her father’s connections to the former Shah of Iran. Though her asylum request was denied, she was granted a stay of removal, contingent on her compliance with immigration requirements.

Legal Hurdles and Community Support

Russell Milne said that his wife remains in good spirits, but is concerned about her family and her lack of communication with authorities. “She’s more worried about us, and about the lack of communication she’s getting about her situation. They’re not really giving her any information, and that’s what’s scary.”

Kaitlynn and Russell are seeking legal assistance, which has proven difficult due to the complexity of Donna’s case and a shortage of immigration lawyers. According to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, immigration court backlogs continue to grow, with over 3 million pending cases as of April 2024 (TRAC April 2024).

The family has launched a grassroots campaign to seek Kashanian’s release. Russell stated, “We’re working on a grassroots campaign and a letter-writing campaign on her behalf, that will hopefully be able to at least gain her release from the detention center.”