Trump administration to deport dozens of Iranians amid protest crackdown

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to deport dozens of Iranians back to their home country as early as January 25, sources familiar with the matter confirmed, CNN reports.

If carried out, it would mark the first known deportation flight from the United States to Iran since anti-government protests erupted in recent weeks, and the third such flight under the Trump administration.

There are serious concerns over the safety of those on the prospective flight. Two of the Iranians notified that they would be deported are gay and face “an extremely high chance” of execution upon return, their lawyer Bekah Wolf said. “If they were to be sent back right now, they’re facing death sentences by hanging,” said Wolf, a lawyer with the American Immigration Council.

One of the men, speaking from detention, emphasized the peril they face. “If you care about the people, please let us stay. We are not bad human beings. We love this country. If we could live in this country, we will love it more than we love our homelands because our homeland is captured. It’s ruined. It’s destroyed by the government of Iran,” he said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

The men fled Iran in 2021 after being arrested by the country’s morality police for being gay and facing prosecution for conduct punishable by death. They endured months of abuse while traveling to the United States and have since faced discrimination and medical neglect in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. One man reported that his partner is wheelchair-bound and has lost 40 pounds due to poor care.

A senior administration official stated that deportations involve individuals with “Executable Final Orders” issued by a federal judge, though the administration does not typically comment on specific flights to protect operational security.

Critics highlight the apparent contradiction in US policy. Wolf said, “We’re saying, on the one hand, that we will support the protesters against this horrific regime, and at the same time we’re making a deal with that same regime to deport people who have fled to seek asylum.”

Separately, a Tehran-based doctor who treated wounded protesters warned CNN that deporting Iranians is “one of the biggest mistakes of Donald Trump’s administration,” emphasizing that those who fled are not equivalent to regime officials.

Trump has signaled a continued willingness to engage with Iran, warning of a potential military response if tensions escalate. “We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case… I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely,” he said.

By Vafa Guliyeva