Deportation of Suspected IRGC Members Confirmed by DHS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed this week that three men recently sent back to Iran had entered the United States unlawfully and are “known or suspected” members of the terrorist group, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
As tensions have escalated between the U.S. and Iran, President Donald Trump announced last week that a U.S. Navy fleet was heading to the Middle East. This decision followed a violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Iran that resulted in numerous casualties. During the same period, a deal was arranged to repatriate Iranian nationals. An Iranian government-confirmed flight carrying around 20 Iranians departed from the United States this week.
Some Democratic lawmakers criticized the deportation, claiming it may endanger “LGBTQ Iranians.” It’s notable that DHS has identified three of those deported as having affiliations with a designated terrorist organization. In contrast, two individuals known as “LGBTQ Iranians” are reportedly in the process of applying for asylum in the U.S.
DHS has confirmed the identities of the three suspected IRGC members: Ethan Khaledi, Mohammad Mehrani, and Morteza Nasirikakoraki. According to a recent press release, Khaledi and Mehrani illegally entered the U.S. in Southern California in September and October 2024, respectively. Nasirikakoraki arrived in November 2024 and was intercepted by Border Patrol agents near San Luis, Arizona.
Statistics provided highlight that 70% of those arrested by ICE have prior felony convictions or pending charges. DHS noted that in Trump’s first year, ICE apprehended a significant number of potential national security threats, including known or suspected terrorists and gang members.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed support for the expulsion of individuals linked to the Revolutionary Guard, stating that under the Trump administration, efforts have been amplified to remove dangerous individuals from the country, including violent offenders and suspected terrorists.
Abolfazl Mehrabadi, an Iranian diplomat operating unofficially in Washington, confirmed that Iran would accept flights carrying Iranian nationals. This particular flight is set to depart from Phoenix, Arizona, routing through Egypt and Kuwait before reaching Iran. This marks the third such flight since Trump began his second term.
Mehrabadi mentioned that plans for repatriating a larger group of detainees have been complicated by a measles outbreak in detention facilities. Originally, 40 Iranian detainees were scheduled for deportation, but that number was scaled down to 20 due to weather issues and the health crisis.
This recent flight to Iran is part of a series of deportations, with the first occurring in September. In early December, Iran confirmed acceptance of 55 deported nationals, some of whom cited their return as a response to what they described as the U.S.’s discriminatory policies against Iranians. However, the Iranian government also acknowledged that legal immigration violations were a factor in these deportations.
While the Iranian regime seeks to depict the U.S. immigration enforcement as harsh, many Iranian-Americans are advocating for further actions against individuals with ties to the regime, particularly in light of recent violent government actions against protesters. Some have begun circulating a petition urging the U.S. to deport more individuals associated with Iranian leadership.
The Revolutionary Guards are a recognized branch of the Iranian government, branded a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2019. They play a dual role in suppressing dissent domestically and coordinating various acts of violence internationally through their Quds Force.
This month, Argentina also designated the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force as a terrorist entity, linking it to a significant past terrorist attack in Buenos Aires.
