U.S. immigration officials coordinated with Iran on deportations, emails show

Newly released emails reveal that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials coordinated with the Iranian government to deport more than 100 Iranians between late 2025 and early 2026. The correspondence, obtained by the National Iranian American Council, details three separate immigration flights conducted in September 2025, December 2025, and January 2026.

The documents indicate that Iranian officials exerted influence over the deportation process, including requesting last-minute changes to manifests. One ICE official noted, “Per request from the Iran Embassy I added a few cases,” while another reported amending lists following meetings with the director at the Iranian Embassy.

This collaboration occurred despite heightened geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The emails suggest that coordination remained a high priority for ICE, even as some communications were facilitated through third parties like Qatar. Human rights advocates have raised concerns regarding the safety of deportees, noting that dissidents and minorities in Iran face significant persecution. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the matter.