A quiet channel between ICE and Iran shaped deportation flights, newly released emails show
LOS ANGELES (AP) - U.S. Immigration authorities worked with Iran to deport Iranians in 2025, newly issued emails show, revealing a working relationship between the U.S.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – U.S. Immigration authorities worked with Iran to deport Iranians in 2025, newly issued emails show, revealing a working relationship between the U.S.
What happened
Hundreds of emails exchanged between U.S. Immigration authorities. It were obtained by the National Iranian American Council and produced public Tuesday, offer the most transparent play by play yet of how the two countries worked together to arrange for more than 100 Iranians to be flown back to Iran on three separate immigration flights in September and December 2025 and January 2026.
Notably, the emails show that Iranian authorities had some influence over which Iranian immigrants in the U.S. Were sent back to their home country, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities apparently heeded some last-minute changes to deportation lists at the request of Iran.
The bottom line
Taken together, the developments around a quiet channel between ICE and Iran shaped deportation flights, newly released point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.
