Allegations of secretive and abrupt deportations of Iranian nationals from the United States have sparked outrage and concern among human rights advocates, attorneys, and the Iranian diaspora. According to reports from ABC News and corroborated by The New York Times, at least two Iranian asylum seekers were removed from the U.S. and sent back to Iran this week, with their lawyer claiming the deportations occurred without due process, placing the individuals at grave risk of persecution.
Ali Herischi, a Maryland-based attorney representing Iranian asylum seekers, told ABC News on October 1, 2025, that two of his clients vanished from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee locator system before he learned they had been deported to Iran. The mystery surrounding their sudden disappearance left families and advocates scrambling for answers. Herischi said, "We tried multiple times to ask for his appeal. And suddenly, without any information, we realized that he disappeared from [the ICE] detainee locator and then the news broke that Iranians had been deported back to Iran."
One of the deported individuals is a Christian convert who entered the U.S. earlier this year with his pregnant wife, seeking refuge from religious persecution. After his asylum claim was denied while he was in detention, he was issued an order of removal. According to Herischi, the client’s wife, who recently gave birth, remains in the United States and is not currently detained. She was able to briefly speak with her husband after his deportation. Herischi recounted that the man told his wife he was "shackled and handcuffed all the way to Iran."
The attorney did not mince words in expressing his outrage. He told ABC News, "It was so wrong, and unfortunately these are the same people that ... U.S. foreign policy tries to protect. These are those who stand up against the regime, who pay a price for standing up against the regime, and then you give them back directly to the hand of evil." Herischi described the deportations as "unconscionable," a sentiment echoed by many in the advocacy community.
Herischi’s concern extends beyond these two clients. He represents a total of 25 Iranian nationals in the United States who are now fearful they could be next. "These are those who stand up against the regime, who pay a price for standing up against the regime, and then you give them back directly to the hand of evil," Herischi emphasized, highlighting the unique vulnerability of dissidents, activists, and religious converts facing forced return to Iran.
The broader context of these deportations is equally troubling. Earlier this week, Iranian state media quoted an official as saying that about 120 Iranian nationals detained in the U.S. would be returned to Iran in the coming days. The New York Times reported on October 1, 2025, that a chartered U.S. flight carrying more than 100 Iranians departed Louisiana, bound for Tehran via Qatar. Iranian officials confirmed that 120 citizens are being repatriated, some voluntarily and others after their asylum claims were denied.
Despite the mounting evidence and public statements from Iranian officials, the U.S. government has not formally acknowledged these deportations as of October 1, 2025. ABC News reported that the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the removal of Iranian nationals. This silence has fueled speculation and anxiety among affected families and their attorneys, leaving many to wonder about the fate of those still in detention or in the midst of asylum proceedings.
For decades, the United States has provided refuge to Iranians fleeing political and religious persecution. The country’s longstanding policy has often extended protection to those who fear retribution from the Iranian regime, particularly dissidents, activists, and converts to Christianity. Human rights advocates warn that returnees—especially those with a history of opposition to the regime or who have converted from Islam—could face serious risks upon arrival in Iran, including imprisonment, torture, or worse.
"Human rights advocates warn that returnees—including converts to Christianity, dissidents and activists—could face serious risks on arrival in Iran," ABC News reported. This warning is not without precedent. Iran is known for its harsh treatment of those it perceives as political threats or religious apostates. The U.S. State Department has consistently documented Iran’s poor human rights record, and international organizations have repeatedly called attention to the dangers faced by returnees.
The issue of due process is at the heart of the controversy. Herischi and others allege that their clients were denied the opportunity to fully pursue appeals of their asylum denials or to communicate with their families and legal counsel before being deported. The sudden disappearance of detainees from the ICE locator system has become a point of contention, with advocates arguing that it undermines transparency and accountability in the immigration system.
The situation has broader implications for U.S. immigration and foreign policy. On one hand, the U.S. government faces pressure to enforce immigration laws and process removal orders for those whose asylum claims are denied. On the other hand, deporting individuals to countries where they may face persecution runs counter to America’s self-professed values of refuge and human rights. The tension between these priorities has become increasingly pronounced in recent years, as asylum seekers from countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Venezuela arrive at the southern border in search of safety.
In the absence of official comment from the Department of Homeland Security, speculation abounds about the motivations behind the recent deportations. Some observers suggest that the removals could be part of a broader diplomatic arrangement between the U.S. and Iran, while others see them as an outgrowth of stricter immigration enforcement under current policies. Regardless of the underlying reasons, the human cost is clear. Families have been separated, vulnerable individuals placed at risk, and the legal community left grappling with unanswered questions.
For the families and attorneys involved, the uncertainty is agonizing. Herischi, who has become a vocal advocate for his clients, continues to press for answers and accountability. "We were shocked and tried to find out what's going on," he said, describing the confusion and distress that followed the sudden deportations. His clients’ stories have now become emblematic of the broader challenges facing asylum seekers from repressive regimes—and of the ethical dilemmas confronting U.S. immigration authorities.
As the debate continues, the fate of those already deported—and those still awaiting decisions—remains uncertain. The legal and moral questions raised by these deportations will likely reverberate in the weeks and months to come, as advocates, lawmakers, and the public grapple with the balance between enforcement and compassion in America’s immigration system.
The sudden removal of Iranian asylum seekers has exposed deep fissures in the U.S. approach to both immigration and human rights. For those caught in the crossfire, the stakes could not be higher.
