Leaked Emails Reveal ICE Colluded With Iran to Deport Iranians
U.S. and Iran Secretly Worked Together to Deport Over 100 People, Emails Reveal
What Happened? (The Big Picture)
Imagine two neighbors who are arguing loudly and threatening each other—but behind the scenes, they’re quietly helping each other move furniture.
That’s basically what newly released emails show happened between the U.S. government and the Iranian government in late 2025 and early 2026.
Important Point
Even though the U.S. and Iran were enemies on the world stage—even fighting a 12-day war in June 2025—immigration officials from both countries cooperated closely to put more than 100 Iranians on planes and send them back to Iran.
How Do We Know This?
A group called the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) got hundreds of internal emails from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through a public records request. They made those emails public in September 2025.
These emails give a step-by-step look at how the deportations were planned—and how much say Iran had in who got sent back.
The Deportation Flights: By the Numbers
| Flight Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | First deportation flight leaves U.S. for Iran |
| December 2025 | Second flight departs |
| January 2026 | Third flight departs |
| Total People | Over 100 Iranians deported across three flights |
Iran Helped Pick Who Got Deported
The emails show that Iranian officials weren’t just watching—they were actively involved.
Examples from the Emails:
- "Per request from the Iran Embassy I added a few cases" – ICE official, late August 2025
- "Iran has requested that I amend the previous manifest and expedite the removal process" – ICE official, early September 2025
- Three days before the first flight, the Iranian Embassy was still asking to add three more people
- Some requests were denied, but others were accepted
Important Point
It’s not clear if the people Iran picked wanted to go back or were forced. Some reports say asylum seekers—people fleeing danger—were among those deported.
A Mistake Happened: Someone Got on the Plane Who Shouldn’t Have Been There
Email from unnamed U.S. official:
"An Iranian not included on the final manifest we sent to the Qatari MOI was boarded on the flight."Another official replied:
"I have no idea how the case/person got through on the plane."
This suggests poor oversight and last-minute chaos in the process.
Why Is This a Big Deal? (The Context)
1. The U.S. and Iran Were Basically at War
- June 13–24, 2025: A 12-day conflict between U.S./Israel and Iran
- June 16: Former President Trump posted: "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"
- Iranian airspace was closed, people were fleeing the country
2. But ICE Still Made Deportations a "Top Priority"
- June 2025: Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons called Iranian repatriation a "priority"
- Marcos Charles (ICE removal chief) told staff: "We need a plan forward ASAP"
- Another official wrote: "Identify a solution for this White House priority"
Important Point
While bombs were falling and civilians were running for their lives, U.S. officials were focused on deporting Iranians back into that same danger zone.
A Sharp Turn from Decades of U.S. Policy
For over 40 years (since the 1979 Islamic Revolution), the U.S. has welcomed Iranian dissidents, exiles, and people fleeing persecution.
These deportations break from that tradition—and human rights groups are furious.
Why Critics Are Worried:
- Iran has a long record of persecuting:
- Women
- Religious minorities
- Political dissidents
- Sending people back there could put their lives at risk
Iranian Officials Met With Detainees—In U.S. Custody
The emails show ICE arranged meetings between Iranian government officials and Iranians locked up in U.S. detention centers.
A Separate Lawsuit Backs This Up:
- 11 Iranians in detention swore in court (July 2025) that:
- They were forced to meet Iranian officials
- Those officials knew private details about their asylum claims
- The lawsuit says: U.S. agencies illegally shared confidential asylum info with Iran
Important Point
U.S. law (since the late 1990s) forbids sharing asylum application info with the person’s home government—exactly because it puts them in danger.
DHS Denies It:
"These allegations that ICE shared asylum application records with the Iranian government are FALSE."
— Department of Homeland Security, July 2025
How Did the Flights Actually Work?
Since the U.S. and Iran don’t have direct flights, Qatar stepped in as a middleman.
- Qatari officials helped charter the planes through Doha
- Sometimes messages went through Qatar, sometimes directly to Iranian Embassy staff in the U.S.
- ICE officials met regularly with an "Iranian delegation" and the "Director at the Iranian Embassy"
What Critics Are Saying
Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council:
"It demonstrates that the top priority here was to kick out as many people as possible by whatever means necessary."
He says the emails undermine claims that the U.S. is fighting Iran to protect ordinary Iranians—because the U.S. sent those same Iranians back into Iran’s hands.
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Key Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | U.S. (ICE) & Iranian government |
| What | Coordinated 3 deportation flights (Sept 2025, Dec 2025, Jan 2026) |
| How Many | 100+ Iranians |
| Iran’s Role | Helped pick who got deported, requested last-minute changes |
| Timing | During/after a 12-day U.S.-Israel-Iran war (June 2025) |
| Concerns | Asylum seekers deported, possible sharing of confidential info, people sent back to persecution |
| Legal Issue | U.S. law bans sharing asylum info with home country |
| DHS Response | Denies wrongdoing; no comment on emails |
FAQ: Questions You Might Have
1. Were these people criminals?
Not necessarily. The emails say most crossed the border illegally from Mexico, and some had other immigration issues—but asylum seekers (people fleeing danger) were also among them.
2. Did Iran force the U.S. to do this?
The emails suggest coordination, not coercion. The Trump administration treated it as a "White House priority." Iran requested changes, and ICE often complied.
3. Is it legal for the U.S. to share asylum info with Iran?
No. Federal regulations since the 1990s prohibit sharing anything that reveals someone applied for asylum—because it endangers them.
4. Why would the U.S. deport people to a country it’s fighting?
The emails don’t explain the big-picture reasoning, but they show deportation quotas and political pressure overrode safety concerns—even during active conflict.
5. What happens to the people who were deported?
We don’t know for sure. Human rights groups fear they could face arrest, torture, or worse—especially if they spoke out against the Iranian government or sought asylum.
Final Thought
Two governments. One war. But a quiet deal to send people back into the fire.
These emails pull back the curtain on a hidden partnership that contradicts public rhetoric—and raises serious questions about human rights, legality, and who U.S. immigration policy really protects.