Trump Administration’s Alleged Sharing of Iranian Detainee Information

Allegations have emerged regarding the Trump administration’s action of providing Iranian officials in Washington with detailed information about Iranian asylum seekers detained in the United States. This exchange reportedly happened in the months leading up to military conflict between the two nations, according to recent documents filed in a federal lawsuit.

The filings, presented in Federal District Court in Washington, highlight clandestine interactions that resulted in the deportation of over 100 Iranians to Tehran from September 2025 to January 2026. This period was shortly before U.S. military operations against Iran commenced in February.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reiterated previous denials concerning the lawsuit’s accusations, without addressing newly emerged details from Wednesday’s filings. Additionally, the State Department representative did not immediately comment on the matter.

The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, a civil rights organization, filed declarations to substantiate claims that the administration unlawfully shared confidential information with the Iranian government, putting many Iranians at risk of persecution.

In one affidavit, Cyrus Mehri, a board member and attorney for the Fund, recounted a March phone call and meeting with an unnamed Iranian official. This official admitted having ongoing communication with ICE regarding U.S. deportation activities. Mr. Mehri noted that the engagement started through an unexpected call from the official, with whom he had a prior acquaintance. The official shared his perspective on deportation discussions, even after Mr. Mehri clarified that they were opposing each other on this issue.

The filing detailed the Iranian official’s assertion that the Trump administration aimed to remove all Iranian detainees in U.S. detention centers and disclosed initial involvement of State Department officials in sharing sensitive information about asylum seekers escaping Tehran’s regime.