Iran has announced that 120 of its nationals are set to be deported from the United States, a development linked to President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Hossein Noushabadi, an official from Iran’s foreign ministry, stated that these individuals would be returning within one to two days, primarily via a flight through Qatar. He noted that most of the deportees had entered the U.S. illegally, often through Mexico.
The U.S. has seen an increase in the number of Iranian nationals trying to enter, many of whom claim to be fleeing persecution. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to implementing what has been described as the largest mass deportation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history. Noushabadi also mentioned that some of those being deported held valid residency permits and that U.S. officials sought consent for their return.
Iran is reportedly coordinating with U.S. authorities through its Interests Section at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran to facilitate these deportations, marking a rare instance of cooperation between the two nations, which lack formal diplomatic relations. This current deportation is perceived as the first phase of a larger operation, with up to 400 Iranian nationals expected to be deported in total.
The U.S. has already established deportation agreements with several other countries. Recently, Panama and Costa Rica agreed to accept migrants from the U.S. as part of similar arrangements. While President Trump has pledged to reduce overall immigration to the U.S., including to nations with questionable human rights records, it remains unclear if the Iranian deportees have any criminal backgrounds.
Critics, including human rights organizations, have expressed concerns about the risks faced by deported migrants who could be sent back to countries with severe human rights issues. In the case of Iran, the government has faced sharp criticism for its human rights record, with reports of a notable increase in the application of the death penalty this year.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrql7gd10do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss