Lawsuit Accuses US of Sharing Asylum Seeker Data With Iran

The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and Public Citizen Litigation Group allege that US officials have provided the Iranian government with the names and personal details of roughly 150 detainees. These disclosures reportedly began during meetings in Washington, where State Department and ICE officials sought to facilitate the return of Iranian nationals. Despite internal acknowledgments from the State Department regarding Iran's history of systematic oppression, the lawsuit claims the US has continued to share immigration files and coordinate deportation logistics.

According to the complaint, these efforts resulted in three mass deportation flights occurring between September and January. Plaintiffs argue that by allowing Iranian officials to review and select individuals for return, the administration has compromised the safety of those seeking protection. The lawsuit specifically names Secretary of State Marco Rubio and seeks a court order to halt the practice, alongside the appointment of a special master to audit compromised files.

Department of Homeland Security officials have denied the allegations, stating that ICE operations comply with established laws regarding consular access and detainee rights. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation. Meanwhile, attorney Michael Kirkpatrick asserts that the current policy directly violates confidentiality protections, noting that ICE continues to transmit document packages to Iranian officials even after the onset of hostilities in February.