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Trump administration unlawfully gave Iran info on asylum seekers set for deportation - report

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The Trump administration allegedly shared confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with Iran, violating US law, according to a lawsuit.
  • The lawsuit claims this action exposed vulnerable individuals, including pro-democracy protesters and LGBTQ+ members, to persecution in Iran.
  • ICE has denied the allegations, stating that no asylum application records were shared with the Iranian government.

A lawsuit filed by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) accuses the Trump administration of unlawfully providing Iran with confidential information about asylum seekers slated for deportation. The complaint, lodged in US District Court in Washington, DC, names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) David Venturella as defendants.

The plaintiffs assert that the US government breached federal confidentiality regulations, thereby endangering pro-democracy activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities in Iran. They also claim that the families of applicants remaining in Iran and the deportees themselves face increased risk upon return.

These allegations that ICE shared asylum application records with the Iranian government are false.

— ICEImmigration and Customs Enforcement's official response to the lawsuit's claims.

According to the lawsuit, a senior Iranian official requested a list of detained Iranian nationals from the State Department in March 2025. Federal officials reportedly provided approximately 150 names, and further agreed to monthly meetings between ICE and the Iranian government to exchange information. This communication allegedly continued despite ongoing hostilities, including military strikes and a war that began in February 2026.

ICE has vehemently rejected these claims, issuing a statement that "These allegations that ICE shared asylum application records with the Iranian government are false." The IALDF, however, maintains that the US government prioritized deportation over protecting human lives, with lead counsel Michael Kirkpatrick stating, "Despite the US’s ongoing war with Iran, the administration seems more committed to mass deportation than protecting human lives."

Despite the US’s ongoing war with Iran, the administration seems more committed to mass deportation than protecting human lives.

— Michael KirkpatrickLead counsel for the plaintiffs, criticizing the administration's priorities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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