BEAVERTON, Ore. (KPTV) — Controversy is growing after the arrest of an Iranian man by ICE agents outside a Beaverton daycare, with newly released video capturing the tense interaction.
The man, 38-year-old chiropractor Mahdi Khanbabazadeh, was detained last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while dropping off his child at Guidepost Montessori School.
Footage obtained by FOX 12 shows agents stopping Khanbabazadeh’s vehicle with his child still inside. The video begins with Khanbabazadeh calmly greeting agents and asking, “Why, what’s going on? I have a baby in the car.” One of the agents replies, “That’s okay,” before requesting his ID.
According to ICE, Khanbabazadeh had overstayed his visa, prompting the agency’s action. The video shows Khanbabazadeh handing over his ID and trying to console his distressed son in the back seat.
After allowing him to drop off his child, the situation escalates at 8:42 a.m. when agents reportedly broke a window of the car after Khanbabazadeh refused to exit. ICE says he stopped cooperating and resisted arrest.
The video captures the moment agents smash the car window. Khanbabazadeh responds, “I’m getting out,” to which an agent replies, “You should have gotten out already.”
The arrest has sparked backlash from immigration advocates. Marco Mejia, of the Deportation Defense Coalition, called the scene traumatic and unnecessary, especially with a child present.
“They are creating a generation of people that are going to be traumatized and very angry about what the government is doing,” Mejia said.
ICE maintains the arrest was lawful and necessary due to Khanbabazadeh’s noncompliance. However, the visual of agents breaking the window with a child nearby has intensified the public debate around immigration enforcement practices, particularly in family settings.
