The Trump administration has reached a new deportation agreement with an unexpected partner: Iran. According to the New York Times, the United States has returned about 100 Iranians to their home country, with a flight reportedly departing Louisiana late Monday and traveling through Qatar en route to Iran. It marks one of the largest mass deportations of Iranians from the U.S. in recent years. An additional 300 individuals are expected to follow under the arrangement, the Associated Press reports, citing Iranian state television.
Details about the deportees remain limited, though officials confirm the group included both men and women, with some traveling as couples. Many were detained after entering the United States illegally from Mexico, according to Iranian media. Some had spent months in detention and chose to return voluntarily, while others were deported without the chance to appear before a judge or present asylum claims. Officials say most were denied asylum.
The deal follows months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, a rare point of cooperation between the two governments. The Times described the move as one of the most notable examples of the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce deportations regardless of potential human rights concerns in the destination country. Iranian officials, however, have reportedly assured U.S. authorities that the deportees would not face retaliation upon their return.