Iran Seeks Return of Deportees from the U.S.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed hope for the return of 120 Iranian citizens deported from the United States on Tuesday. Many of these individuals were identified as illegal immigrants who entered the country via the southern border.
According to a report from the Iranian state media outlet, PressTV, Hossain Nouhabadi, the Parliamentary Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the acceptance of these deported individuals. PressTV, known for its strong criticism of the U.S., presented this news in a somewhat neutral manner, referencing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and those of his Democratic successor, Joe Biden.
The decision to repatriate these citizens comes amidst strained relations between Iran and the United States. It’s worth noting that this move could be seen as unexpected, especially considering the current geopolitical climate and recent sanctions imposed on Iran.
“The U.S. Immigration Agency is planning to deport around 400 Iranians currently living in the U.S., many of whom entered illegally, due to the government’s strict immigration policies,” Nouhabadi stated, though he didn’t clarify whether the 120 deported individuals are counted within that total. Officials indicated these deportees would initially fly from the U.S. to Qatar before returning to Iran.
Nouhabadi further explained that not all deportees entered the U.S. illegally. He mentioned that some held residence permits and suggested that their asylum requests were denied.
Tehran has reportedly avoided demanding that the U.S. be more “sensitive to respecting Iran’s immigration rights.” This sentiment contrasts sharply with the Iranian regime’s long history of systemic human rights violations against its own citizens, including acts of violence against political opponents and religious minorities.
According to Nouhabadi, those returning will face no specific restrictions, apart from the general repression faced by all Iranian citizens under the current regime. Officials highlighted that these individuals have not violated any Iranian laws and do not pose any political threat upon their return.
PressTV’s report tracked earlier claims made in the *New York Times* regarding the deportation. An independent outlet, Iran International, indicated the deportees would depart from Louisiana and first arrive in Qatar. It noted that while some Iranians had been deported earlier in the year, they had not returned to Iran. Earlier this year, reports emerged of a group, including individuals who converted to Christianity—facing possible persecution—making their way to Central America.
The U.S. State Department has been working to facilitate the repatriation of individuals entering the country illegally. Notable efforts were observed in Latin America, where the Trump administration has secured cooperation from certain friendly governments, including El Salvador, to accept their citizens back. El Salvador’s President has taken steps to facilitate this process.
Beyond Latin America, there have been significant deportations to other cooperating countries as well. For example, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials recently conducted operations that led to the arrest of hundreds of undocumented workers from South Korea.
In a statement to Breitbart News, a senior State Department official outlined the negotiations aimed at repatriating illegal immigrants as a key achievement of the administration. “We’ve made substantial progress on illegal immigration,” they stated, emphasizing a broader strategy to assist countries in dealing with their citizens abroad.
As of the latest updates, 2 million illegal immigrants have either been deported or voluntarily left the United States during President Trump’s administration, with ongoing efforts suggesting that another 600,000 could also be deported in the near future.
Overall, the focus remains on enforcing immigration laws more strictly and sending a clear message about the consequences of illegal entry into the country.
