The Trump administration held secret talks with Iran over deporting Iranian nationals while the two countries were at war, according to newly released court documents. The revelation has raised serious concerns about the safety of immigrants who could face persecution if returned to Iran.
The documents, obtained by the Associated Press and made public on Thursday, November 5, show that US officials were coordinating with Iranian representatives as recently as mid-October.
The discussions focused on travel documents and possible deportation routes through a third country. However, officials had not established a specific date for the removals.
Federal Judge Raises Concerns Over Deportations to Iran
US District Judge Ana Reyes strongly questioned the administration’s plans during an October 15 court hearing.
The judge expressed concern that Iranian nationals could face serious threats to their safety if deported to a country involved in an active conflict with the United States.
Justice Department attorney Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel confirmed that the government was preparing to carry out lawful removal orders.
Reyes subsequently ordered federal officials to provide at least five days’ written notice before carrying out any deportation involving Iranian nationals.
The administration must also notify the court 24 hours before finalizing a removal plan.
The judge warned that government officials could face contempt proceedings if they violated those requirements.
According to the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, at least 12 Iranian detainees had recently received notifications about possible deportations.
The organization said some detainees could be transferred through Pakistan before being returned to Iran.
However, no confirmed date for the planned deportations had been publicly announced.
Lawsuit Raises Questions About Asylum Seekers’ Safety
The Trump administration’s Iran deportation talks emerged during an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund.
The organization alleges that US immigration authorities shared confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with Iranian officials.
Such disclosures could expose people seeking protection in the United States to persecution if they return to their home country.
The Department of Homeland Security has denied sharing asylum application records with the Iranian government.
Court records also reveal that American and Iranian officials previously coordinated three deportation flights between September 2025 and January 2026.
Those flights returned more than 100 Iranian nationals to Iran, according to the Associated Press.
Historically, deportations from the United States to Iran have been uncommon because the two countries lack formal diplomatic relations.
The ongoing conflict has made the issue particularly sensitive, with immigration advocates warning that returning people to Iran could place their lives at risk.
The administration has defended its broader immigration enforcement policies, maintaining that individuals subject to lawful removal orders can be deported.
The latest court documents highlight the legal and humanitarian questions surrounding immigration enforcement during an international conflict.
For now, the federal court’s notification requirements remain an important safeguard as the administration considers further removals.
