In a significant development regarding US-Iran relations, Iranian officials revealed that 120 Iranian nationals are being deported from the United States. This follows a deal arranged with Tehran amid the Trump administration's intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Hossein Noushabadi, the deportees will return within the next few days, primarily having entered the US illegally through Mexico. This action comes after a marked increase in Iranians arriving in the US over recent years, many fleeing potential persecution.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed the administration's commitment to executing what they describe as the largest deportation initiative in US history. This initiative aims to uphold President Trump's pledge to reduce undocumented immigration.
Some deported individuals reportedly held valid US residency permits, raising questions about the legal proceedings involved in their deportation. Noushabadi appealed to the US for the protection of Iranian migrants' rights under international law.
The New York Times reported that this flight of deportees is part of a broader agreement that anticipates the removal of approximately 400 Iranian nationals, making this operation a notable example of the rare collaboration between the US and Iran, two nations lacking formal diplomatic ties.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that deportees face the risk of significant harm upon their return to Iran, where the government’s human rights record is under scrutiny. Moreover, UN experts recently highlighted a severe increase in executions in Iran, raising further concerns about the safety of returning migrants.
In summary, this deportation operation exemplifies the complex interplay between immigration policy, international relations, and human rights as both nations navigate their contentious history.
