Iran says 120 of its nationals are being deported from the US as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. These individuals will return to the country within the next one or two days, Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Noushabadi told Iran's Tasnim state news agency. He specified that most of those being sent back had entered the US illegally—primarily through Mexico.
The recent years have seen an uptick in Iranians fleeing to the US, many seeking refuge from persecution at home. A flight carrying the deportees is expected to arrive in Iran shortly.
Noushabadi also indicated that some of the deported individuals held valid US residency permits and noted that US officials had sought their consent for repatriation. In his remarks, he urged the US government to respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.
The diplomatic exchange highlights a rare moment of cooperation between the two countries, which do not have formal diplomatic ties. As part of the arrangement, it’s estimated that another 400 Iranian nationals may be deported from the US, with this flight considered the initial phase of the process.
While the US government has previously established bilateral deportation agreements with several nations, such as Panama and Costa Rica, Trump has often reiterated his commitment to reducing immigration flows into the US, including plans for mass deportations. However, it remains unclear if the Iranians involved have any criminal records, prompting backlash from human rights organizations concerned about the safety of deportees.
In Iran, the government has faced intense criticism for its human rights record, especially regarding the increasing use of the death penalty—a call-to-action for various international rights groups. The Iranian regime defends its stance on executions as limited to severe crimes, although this is fiercely contested.
The recent years have seen an uptick in Iranians fleeing to the US, many seeking refuge from persecution at home. A flight carrying the deportees is expected to arrive in Iran shortly.
Noushabadi also indicated that some of the deported individuals held valid US residency permits and noted that US officials had sought their consent for repatriation. In his remarks, he urged the US government to respect the rights of Iranian migrants and their citizenship rights under international law.
The diplomatic exchange highlights a rare moment of cooperation between the two countries, which do not have formal diplomatic ties. As part of the arrangement, it’s estimated that another 400 Iranian nationals may be deported from the US, with this flight considered the initial phase of the process.
While the US government has previously established bilateral deportation agreements with several nations, such as Panama and Costa Rica, Trump has often reiterated his commitment to reducing immigration flows into the US, including plans for mass deportations. However, it remains unclear if the Iranians involved have any criminal records, prompting backlash from human rights organizations concerned about the safety of deportees.
In Iran, the government has faced intense criticism for its human rights record, especially regarding the increasing use of the death penalty—a call-to-action for various international rights groups. The Iranian regime defends its stance on executions as limited to severe crimes, although this is fiercely contested.
