If Arpineh Masihi could vote, she would have cast her ballot for Donald Trump. She’s a devout supporter of the US president – even now that she’s locked up as an illegal immigrant.

“He’s doing the right thing because lots of these people don’t deserve to be here,” Arpineh told the BBC over the phone from the Adelanto immigrant detention centre in California’s Mojave Desert.

“I will support him until the day I die. He’s making America great again.”

In 2008, she was convicted of burglary and grand theft and was sentenced to two years in prison. An immigration judge revoked her Green Card, which is a common practice. But because she is a Christian Armenian Iranian, the judge allowed her to remain in the country instead of being deported.