Newly disclosed emails reveal that U.S. immigration authorities quietly collaborated with Iranian government officials in arranging the deportation of over 100 Iranian nationals from the United States during late 2025 and early 2026. This coordination occurred despite tense diplomatic relations and a brief military conflict between the two nations during that period.
What Happened
Emails obtained by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and made public in August 2026 detail the coordination between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and representatives of the Iranian Embassy. Between September 2025 and January 2026, three deportation flights carried Iranians back to Iran. ICE officials appeared to implement last-minute changes to deportation manifests at Tehran’s request, including adding individuals to the lists shortly before flights departed.
One ICE official noted in late August 2025 the addition of several cases at Iran’s request, while further modifications followed meetings with Iranian embassy personnel. Iranian authorities continued to submit flight manifest requests up to the day of departure. However, not all requested changes were approved; some were denied on grounds not fully disclosed in the emails.
The deportations occurred despite a 12-day conflict between the U.S. and Iran that erupted in June 2025, as well as Iran’s subsequent agreement with Israel to a ceasefire. Internal ICE communications reflected awareness of the conflict and challenges such as the closure of Iranian airspace and difficulties obtaining travel documents, but agency leadership emphasized the importance of continuing deportations, calling it a “priority” directed from high levels of the Trump administration.
Key Facts
The emails reveal the following confirmed details:
- More than 100 Iranians were deported on three flights in September and December 2025, and January 2026.
- Some deportees had crossed into the U.S. from Mexico irregularly; others faced diverse immigration challenges.
- OSCE officials noted that one Iranian boarded a flight despite not being on the final manifest, highlighting procedural errors.
- Discussions and coordination involved direct meetings with Iranian embassy staff and intermediaries from Qatar, facilitating flight logistics.
- Donald Trump’s June 2025 public warning to “immediately evacuate Tehran” contrasted with the administration’s pursuit of deportations during the same period.
- Detained Iranian asylum-seekers reportedly met with Iranian officials aware of confidential asylum information, leading to accusations of unlawful data sharing, which DHS denies.
What This Means
This correspondence reveals a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy toward Iranians, departing from the longstanding American practice of offering refuge to Iranian dissidents and asylum seekers post-1979. The deportations amid an armed conflict and political tensions underscore a prioritization of removal efforts, even when humanitarian concerns about persecution risks were acute.
The involvement of the Iranian government in determining who was deported signals a rare collaboration with a state the U.S. government has often criticized for human rights abuses. Such cooperation complicates the Biden administration’s human rights stance and raises questions about the transparency and fairness of deportation procedures.
For Iranian Americans and advocacy groups, these disclosures fuel concerns about the safety and treatment of deportees, particularly asylum seekers who may face persecution upon return. The apparent disregard of asylum applications and confidential data sharing claims intensify debate on the legal and ethical frameworks guiding immigration enforcement.
Background
Historically, the U.S. has been a destination for Iranian exiles fleeing political repression since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Prior administrations had largely refrained from deporting significant numbers of Iranians, especially those claiming asylum.
The newly released emails confirm that the Trump administration negotiated with Iran to repatriate hundreds of Iranians, pushing ICE to prioritize removals despite serious obstacles, including airspace closures during military hostilities and humanitarian crises within Iran.
What Remains Unclear
The emails do not clarify whether those included in the deportation lists consented to repatriation or were forcibly removed. Further, the frequency and nature of direct communication between U.S. immigration officials and Iranian government personnel remain partially obscured, as do the full criteria Iran used to add names to flight manifests.
What Comes Next
At this time, no official statements have outlined future deportation plans involving Iran. Questions raised by the NIAC and other advocacy groups about data-sharing practices and asylum protections may prompt congressional inquiries or policy reviews.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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