Iran has stated that 120 of its citizens are being deported from the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration policies.
According to Hossein Noushabadi, an official from Iran’s foreign ministry, these individuals are expected to return to Iran within the next day or two. He indicated that the majority of those being repatriated had entered the U.S. illegally, primarily through Mexico. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in Iranians seeking entry into the U.S., many of whom reportedly fear persecution in their home country.
A White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, commented to the BBC, stating, “The Trump administration is committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to carry out the largest mass deportation operation of illegal aliens in history, using all the tools at our disposal.” Noushabadi also mentioned that some of the deportees possess valid U.S. residency permits and that U.S. officials had sought their consent for their return. He urged the U.S. government to uphold the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship under international law.
The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that the flight carrying the deportees was scheduled to arrive in Iran later that day. Iran is reportedly cooperating with the U.S. on this matter, with the U.S. Interests Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran facilitating the process. This repatriation is seen as the first phase of a larger deal that is expected to see around 400 Iranian nationals deported from the U.S.
The U.S. has previously established similar deportation agreements with other countries. Earlier this year, Panama and Costa Rica agreed to accept hundreds of migrants from Africa and Asia. President Trump has consistently vowed to reduce immigration to the U.S., aiming to deport a record number of undocumented individuals, including those sent to countries with concerning human rights records. While Trump has spoken of deporting “criminals,” it remains unclear if the Iranian nationals in question have criminal records.
Human rights organizations both within the U.S. and internationally have expressed strong criticism of these policies, warning of the risks migrants face when deported to potentially unsafe destinations. Meanwhile, Iran’s human rights record has also drawn significant criticism, with UN experts recently highlighting a “dramatic escalation” in the use of the death penalty in the country this year.