ICE, Iran quietly worked together on deporting Iranians to Iran, emails show
U.S. immigration officials worked with Iran to deport Iranians in late 2025 and early 2026, newly released emails show, revealing a working relationship between the U.S. and Iranian governments despite tensions mounting between them.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Newly released emails show U.S. immigration officials worked with Iran to deport Iranians in late 2025 and early 2026, despite tensions between the two countries. The emails reveal a working relationship between the U.S. and Iranian governments, with Iranian officials having some influence over which Iranian immigrants in the U.S. were sent back to their home country.
Imagine you're an Iranian immigrant living in the U.S. You're trying to build a new life, but the U.S. government is trying to send you back to Iran. This is what happened to hundreds of Iranians in 2025 and 2026. The U.S. government worked with Iran to deport them, despite tensions between the two countries. This is a big deal because Iran has a history of human rights abuses, and sending people back there can be very dangerous.
Analysis
Deportation Flights
The emails obtained by the National Iranian American Council reveal a complex web of communication between U.S. immigration officials and Iranian officials. The emails show that Iranian officials had some influence over which Iranian immigrants in the U.S. were sent back to their home country. In one email, an ICE official wrote that they added a few cases to the deportation list per request from the Iranian Embassy. This suggests that Iranian officials were able to exert some control over the deportation process.
Pressure from the Trump Administration
The emails also suggest that pressure to carry out the Iranian deportations came from the highest levels of the Trump administration. Just days after a June 16 warning from President Trump on social media that "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" the former acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, called the repatriation of Iranian immigrants a "priority" in an email sent to the agency's head of removal operations, Marcos Charles, and a number of unnamed staff. This suggests that the Trump administration was willing to prioritize the deportation of Iranians over concerns about their safety and well-being.
Human Rights Concerns
The deportation of Iranians to a country with a history of human rights abuses has raised significant concerns among human rights activists. The emails obtained by the National Iranian American Council highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the deportation process. They also raise questions about the motivations behind the Trump administration's decision to prioritize the deportation of Iranians.
Key points
- U.S. immigration officials worked with Iran to deport Iranians in late 2025 and early 2026.
- The emails obtained by the National Iranian American Council reveal a working relationship between the U.S. and Iranian governments.
- Iranian officials had some influence over which Iranian immigrants in the U.S. were sent back to their home country.
- Pressure to carry out the Iranian deportations came from the highest levels of the Trump administration.
- The deportation of Iranians to a country with a history of human rights abuses has raised significant concerns among human rights activists.
If this development plays out positively, it could lead to greater transparency and accountability in the deportation process. This could result in fewer deportations to countries with human rights abuses and more consideration for the safety and well-being of immigrants.
If this development plays out negatively, it could lead to more deportations to countries with human rights abuses. This could result in more harm to immigrants and their families, and could undermine trust in the U.S. government's commitment to human rights.
