Iranian man released after being held for more than two months

LOS ANGELES (AP) An Iranian man who spent more than two months in federal custody after registering at an immigration office was freed as his attorney appeals his case.

Masoud Khoshnevis, 40, was released Tuesday and reunited with his family in Anaheim Hills. He plans to return to his job at a San Diego construction company next week.

Although he missed his wedding anniversary and the Persian New Year, Khoshnevis said he harbors no malice toward immigration officials over his detainment.

``The INS is part of America and I love America,'' he said. ``I love my life here. I just think it was my bad luck. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time.''

Khoshnevis, a legal immigrant, and his family fled Iran after the revolution more than 20 years ago. He said they settled in Germany and ran a grocery store.

In early February, Khoshnevis, like thousands of other Middle Eastern immigrants in the U.S., followed a federal order to register at immigration offices. He was detained because of a 1993 deportation proceeding settled against him without his knowledge while he was in Germany.

The border incident occurred during a vacation to the United States, when Khoshnevis crossed into to Canada for a day trip. He was arrested when he re-entered the country.

His lawyer, David Ross, maintains that a U.S. Border Patrol agent incorrectly told Khoshnevis that he needed to get a new visa in Canada before returning to the United States and that the arrest was a mistake.

Immigration officials recently joined with Khoshnevis' attorney in filing a court motion on his behalf.

``The hope is that the Board of Immigration Appeals will reopen Khoshnevis' original deportation case and cancel the illegal order,'' Ross said. ``We are confident we can get a successful decision.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)