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Immigration

Court papers show Trump administration talked with Iran about deporting Iranians during war

Judge Ana Reyes ordered 24-hour notice of finalized plans, and a legal group says at least a dozen detainees were told they face deportation.

Donald Trump in 2025
Donald Trump in 2025. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
8 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Liberal5 outletssecret talks with Iran continued during the warCenter2 outletscourt papers show coordination continued during the warConservative1 outletHearing testimony, lawmakers' letter, administration's legal pushback
Published 4 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

Court documents unsealed on Nov. 5 show the Trump administration held talks with Iran about deporting Iranians after the war with Iran began. The contacts covered travel documents and finding "possible avenues for removal." In mid-October, the administration told the court it planned to send the Iranians through a third country it did not name, and no date was given.

The papers come from a lawsuit by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, which alleges immigration agencies shared confidential asylum information with Iran. DHS has denied sharing asylum records. At an Oct. 15 hearing, Judge Ana Reyes said that sending people back meant, at a minimum, "a serious threat of certain death."

Justice Department attorney Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel replied that the government is carrying out lawful removal orders. The judge ordered 24 hours' notice to the court of any finalized deportation plan, and five days' written notice before any deportation. The legal group says that at least a dozen Iranian detainees were told they will be deported to Iran, and some were warned it could happen as soon as the Sunday after the documents were unsealed.

According to The Epoch Times, administration lawyers have moved to dissolve the order, arguing the group lacks standing. The group may file a response by Nov. 11.

Key figures

Three sides of the story

Liberal5 outlets

secret talks with Iran continued during the war

The Independent runs the AP wire report, which opens with "secret talks" between the administration and Iran while the war dragged on. It adds the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund's account: at least a dozen detainees notified of deportation, one of whom attempted suicide, and director Yasmine Chubin saying "This flight must be stopped." It gives Judge Ana Reyes's Oct. 15 words about "certain death" and the Justice Department attorney's reply that the government is "executing lawful orders of removal."

It notes that DHS denies sharing asylum records and that DHS and the State Department had not yet answered requests for comment. The report places the contacts within the administration's immigration crackdown, which has involved ramping up removals. PBS NewsHour's report carries the finding in its headline, that court documents show the talks, and says the contacts with Iranian officials concerned travel documents and "possible avenues for removal."

Center2 outlets

court papers show coordination continued during the war

The Las Vegas Review-Journal runs the same AP wire report, datelined Washington. It opens with the "secret talks" and says that in mid-October the administration had plans to deport Iranians through an unnamed third country. It then gives Reyes's Oct. 15 remarks and the Justice Department attorney's answer.

The paper's version says the new documents show the coordination "continued during the war." The lawsuit, it says, portrays US and Iranian authorities cooperating to single out Iranians held by ICE and press them to go back, a break from decades of hostility. DHS has denied sharing asylum records, it notes, and had not yet replied when asked for comment.

The report closes with background: deportations of Iranians are historically rare, ICE has pushed removals even to reluctant countries, and activists abroad voice concern about returnees.

Conservative1 outlet

Hearing testimony, lawmakers' letter, administration's legal pushback

The Epoch Times titles its report on the administration talking with Iran about deportations "During US–Iran War." It centers on the hearing. Adams says the US would "provide lists" of detainees it wanted to deport, Judge Ana Reyes is described as surprised by the revelation, and Georgiev-Remmel says the government is executing lawful removal orders.

The paper quotes a Nov. 2 letter from Sixty-six members of Congress, including Sen. Jack Reed, to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which calls sending people back to a war zone "unconscionable." It also gives the administration's position at length: officials told the court the government has not been giving Iran confidential asylum information and that the court cannot block deportation orders. The administration lawyers' motion to dissolve the order says the group "lacks Article III standing."

The paper notes the group has until Nov. 11 to respond and that DHS had not responded by publication.

Money and daily life

Iranians held by ICE are the people affected. Judge Ana Reyes's order requires the government to tell the court within 24 hours once a deportation plan is final, and to give five days' written notice before any removal. The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund says at least a dozen detainees were told they are being deported, some told it could be as soon as the Sunday after the documents were unsealed. According to The Epoch Times, administration lawyers want the order dissolved, and the group has until Nov. 11 to respond.

All sources: 8 articles from 8 outlets

Liberal (5)

Center (2)

Conservative (1)