ICE allegedly accelerated Iranian deportations during US-Iran war, NIAC claims

Emails obtained by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) indicate that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accelerated the deportation of Iranian nationals following the 12-Day War in 2025. NIAC claims these efforts, including the apprehension of 192 Iranians in June 2025, were ordered directly by the White House. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons allegedly initiated these arrests shortly before the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite internal ICE concerns about Iran's closed airspace and internal chaos, an expedited deportation flight proceeded on September 30, transferring deportees via Qatar.

• During the Qatar stopover, authorities discovered one Iranian deportee was not on the flight manifest but was still repatriated.
• The report suggests potential Israeli government involvement, noting an ICE attaché in the US Embassy in Tel Aviv was "heavily involved" in the deportation process, though no evidence was provided.
• NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello stated, "These documents expose an operation that demands answers from the highest levels of government."
• Jamal Abdi, President of NIAC, criticized the US government, stating, "The US government cannot claim to stand with the Iranian people while bombing their country, arresting Iranians here at home, and forcing people back into the danger it helped create."