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An elderly man who has been living in the United States for decades has been detained by ICE. His daughter is speaking out hoping for his immediate release due to his complex medical needs.

Olia Majd, the daughter of Kazem Majd, said her dad came from Iran to the United States around 1965. He was a teenager.


"He came on a student visa," Olia Majd said.

He's now 77 years old living in San Diego and has called America home for the past 60 years.

"All of his family is here," Majd said. "I've never looked at him as any other way than just being an American."

She said her father was issued a green card and her family isn't aware of any criminal past. Twenty-three years ago, Majd said her father's green card was revoked after a legal issue involving finances. He was then required to check in with ICE every year.

"And he did that for 23 years every year, never missed a check-in, and there were no issues," Majd said.

One month ago, Majd had his annual check-in. He is currently battling a serious and rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis and his family said immigration officials had requested medical records. He also has diabetes and recently had his gallbladder removed.

"He has a lot of medical issues. I mean, he's almost 80 years old. He doesn't walk very well. He's just not in good health at all. He's kind of deteriorating," Majd said.

Majd's family said he provided them those medical records and he was asked to return to the Santa Ana ICE field office one month later. Loved ones assumed it was to confirm information provided by his doctors.

When he returned to the field office on Thursday, he was detained.

"You just feel helpless. You have no control," Majd said.

Majd spoke to her father over the phone shortly after he was taken into custody.

"He was so scared. He sounded scared at least. He heard me crying to it made him cry. And it was just really sad. And he just heard me crying and he said, 'Don't cry,'" Majd recalled. "You know, he's more worried about me. But I told him I'm gonna do everything I can."

Majd is now being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. His daughter says his complex medical needs include daily medications, frequent MRIs and ongoing specialist care. She is fearful how the conditions inside the facility will impact his fragile state.

"He can be monitored if that's what it is, but just please allow him to come home," Majd said. "I'm so, so scared for him."

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