The story of Ribvar Karimi is one of devotion, disillusionment, and desperation. A former Iranian army sniper from the Kurdish region, Karimi now finds himself in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, just weeks before the birth of his first child. His case has gained national attention not only for his military past but also for the deeply personal and political layers that have emerged in the wake of his arrest.
Detained on June 22 in Locust, Alabama, Karimi’s situation is playing out against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and growing domestic scrutiny of immigration enforcement under the revived Trump administration. Karimi entered the U.S. legally in October 2024 on a K-1 fiancé visa and married Morgan, his American wife, within the 90-day legal requirement.
However, he did not complete the next step—adjusting his immigration status—a delay the couple attributes to complications in Morgan’s pregnancy. Despite having all the paperwork prepared and ready to submit, ICE moved in before the couple could file, leading to Karimi’s arrest and detainment. Now, as Morgan nears her due date, she is left fighting to reunite her family and keep her husband from being deported to a country where he may face serious threats to his life.
A Legal Path Interrupted
Ribvar Karimi’s journey to the United States began with legitimate hope. Born and raised in the Kurdish region of Iran, Karimi was required to serve in the Iranian military, where he worked as a sniper between 2018 and 2021. Though his service was mandatory, Karimi and his family have repeatedly emphasized his opposition to the Iranian regime. His dream was never to serve the Islamic Republic but to find freedom outside of it—an aspiration he saw realized when he met Morgan, a young American woman, through an online video game in 2020.
Their relationship blossomed despite geographical and cultural distances. They eventually decided to build a life together in the U.S., with Karimi entering the country on a K-1 visa issued in October 2024. They married in January, well within the legal window required for couples on fiancé visas. However, in the months following their wedding, Morgan faced health issues during her pregnancy.
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Doctors discovered fluid in the baby’s lungs and heart, resulting in stress and delays for the couple. Morgan says the adjustment of status application was completed and ready for submission but had been postponed until after the baby’s birth due to the medical complications and the couple’s limited financial resources.
The left is losing their minds over this and other suspected Sleeper Cell arrests.
— Girl patriot (@Girlpatriot1974) June 26, 2025
An Iranian man living in Alabama with his American Wife has been accused of being a Sleeper Cell agent.
Ribvar Karimi 26, met his wife Morgan Gardner while playing Call of Duty online.
He moved… pic.twitter.com/CGX4ihz4rB
They believed they had time to file and never imagined that failing to do so immediately would result in Karimi’s detainment. On June 22, ICE arrived first at Morgan’s parents’ home, then at hers. Karimi did not resist arrest. He and Morgan were sitting on the porch, waiting, with documents in hand.
A Family’s Loyalty, Now in Question
Morgan Karimi is seven-and-a-half months pregnant with their son, due August 20. In the wake of her husband’s arrest, she has publicly shared her heartbreak and sense of betrayal. What makes their case especially poignant is that the couple—and Morgan’s family—had long supported the very administration under which Ribvar was detained.
Morgan says Ribvar admired Trump’s tough stance on immigration, believing it would help protect America and even aid in the liberation of the Iranian people. His admiration was visible in small but meaningful ways—from proudly purchasing an American flag upon arriving in the U.S. to choosing a groom’s cake shaped like the American flag at their wedding.
Now, however, Morgan feels abandoned by the system they once believed in. “We believed in his [Trump’s] immigration policies and were completely blindsided,” she said. “Everyone feels like a fool and regrets the decision.” She now questions the binary nature of American politics, saying she sees wrongdoing on both sides and feels deeply betrayed.
For Morgan, the shock isn’t just about policy but about fairness and common sense. “This would be much easier to understand if there was a deadline issued for the adjustment of status, but there wasn’t,” she said. She emphasized that they complied with every visible rule and were in the process of completing the next step when ICE acted.
Her frustration is intensified by her belief that her husband’s military background was not hidden but disclosed openly to immigration authorities. His Iranian military ID card and other relevant documents were part of his visa application from the beginning.
A Climate of Fear and Political Theater
Karimi’s arrest didn’t happen in a vacuum. It coincides with heightened geopolitical tensions after President Trump ordered a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Amid these developments, concerns about Iranian nationals residing in the U.S. unlawfully have gained renewed traction. Just days before Karimi’s arrest, the Department of Homeland Security reported that ICE had apprehended 11 Iranian nationals across the country.
DHS emphasized that under the Trump administration, national security is paramount and that any foreign nationals linked to extremist groups or hostile governments would face swift removal. In the same press release confirming Karimi’s arrest, DHS stated that he had failed to fulfill a legal obligation and that the current administration would not compromise when it comes to immigration enforcement.
“We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. But Karimi’s case raises pressing questions about who actually falls under that category. By all accounts, he is not a threat. He openly opposes the Iranian regime, supports American values, and sought lawful permanent residency in accordance with the rules.
The question remains: is this simply a case of bureaucratic delay and overzealous enforcement, or does it signal a broader shift toward zero-tolerance policies that ignore nuance and context? Morgan believes the answer is clear. “My husband is from the Kurdish region of Iran, where the people are good people and desperate for freedom from the regime,” she said. “He wears the American flag proudly.”
She also worries for his safety if he is deported. Having publicly expressed opposition to the Iranian government and served in its army—a combination that places him in a precarious position—Karimi could face detention or worse if returned. His brother, who was granted political asylum, now resides in France for similar reasons.
As Morgan continues her pregnancy, the emotional toll is mounting. She must navigate doctor visits, legal battles, and the impending birth without the support of her husband. Her voice has become a beacon for families caught in the immigration crossfire, echoing the plea that enforcement should not be blind to humanity.
The story of Ribvar Karimi is far from over. As the U.S. legal system begins the slow march toward a resolution, Morgan is doing everything she can to fight for her husband’s right to stay. Whether the courts or the administration will show compassion remains to be seen. For now, she holds onto hope and the dream of seeing her husband by her side when their son enters the world.