By Ahmed Abdelsalam
The Trump administration held secret talks with Iranian officials to deport Iranian nationals even as hostilities between the two countries continued, according to court documents unsealed on Thursday.
The documents, obtained by the Associated Press, show that as recently as mid-October the administration planned to remove Iranians through an unnamed third country, though no specific date was set.
Court hearing reveals deportation plans
During a 15 October hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the government to provide 24-hour notice of any finalized deportation plans to Iran or another country and five days' written notice before any removal is carried out.
Judge warns of death threat
Reyes sharply questioned Justice Department attorney Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel, noting that the United States is at war with a country the president has described as lawless and responsible for killing tens of thousands of protesters. She said sending detainees back would pose a serious threat of certain death. Georgiev-Remmel acknowledged the government was executing lawful removal orders but said no specific removal date had been set.
Lawsuit alleges coordination with Iran
The case was brought by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, which argues that U.S. immigration agencies have shared confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government, violating regulations and endangering lives. The group said at least 12 Iranian detainees were contacted in the past week by the Iranian Interest Section in Washington and notified of an upcoming deportation flight to Iran via Pakistan.
Detainees notified of upcoming flights
One detainee attempted suicide after learning of the possible return, according to the organization's executive director, Yasmine Chubin. Two detainees were subsequently moved to a Texas facility often used as a final stop before removal. None of the contacted detainees have received written information from immigration authorities, the legal group said.
Historical context and administration policy
Deportations of Iranians have been rare due to the lack of diplomatic relations and the risk of persecution. However, under the Trump administration's broad immigration crackdown, ICE has aggressively pursued removals even to countries with hostile or non-existent diplomatic ties. Court filings reveal that hundreds of emails between U.S. officials show coordination that resulted in more than 100 Iranians being flown back on three flights in September and December 2025 and January 2026.
