US Poised To Deport Dozens Of Iranians Amid Crackdown — Human Rights Concerns Raised

Sources familiar with the situation told CNN that the Trump administration is preparing a deportation flight that could return dozens of Iranians to Iran as soon as this Sunday. If carried out, the transfer would be the first known deportation flight to Iran from the United States since nationwide anti-government protests began and would be the third such flight under President Trump.

Human rights advocates and immigration lawyers warn the move raises serious safety concerns for people on the planned flight. The story was first reported by MS NOW and corroborated by CNN sources.

Gay Asylum Seekers Face Extreme Risk

Two men who have been notified they will be on the upcoming flight are gay, and their attorney, Bekah Wolf of the American Immigration Council, told CNN they face "an extremely high chance" of execution if returned to Iran. "If they were to be sent back right now, they’re facing death sentences by hanging," Wolf said, noting that homosexual acts can be punishable by death under Iranian law.

"If you care about the people, please let us stay," one detainee told CNN from detention. "We are not bad human beings. We love this country. If we could live in this country, we will love it more than we love our homelands because our homeland is captured. It’s ruined. It’s destroyed by the government of Iran."

The man, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said he and his partner fled Iran in 2021 after being arrested by the morality police. He described suffering torture and sexual assault in Iran and said the pair were prosecuted for conduct that carries the death penalty. He also recounted months of harrowing travel to the U.S. border, during which he said he was robbed and beaten.

His partner, according to Wolf and the detainee, is in poor medical condition after suffering what they describe as "very intensive medical neglect" while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The detainee said his partner uses a wheelchair and has lost around 40 pounds.

One of the men had been scheduled for a December deportation flight but was removed amid a pending appeal of his asylum case, which was denied by the administration — his appeal remains active.

Policy Contradictions And International Context

Advocates argue that negotiating with Iran to accept a deportation flight — a prerequisite for the transfer — highlights a contradiction in U.S. policy. "We’re saying, on the one hand, that we will support the protesters against this horrific regime, and at the same time we’re making a deal with that same regime to deport people who have fled to seek asylum," Wolf said.

President Trump has publicly warned the Iranian regime about its response to protesters and said his administration would engage with Iran while not ruling out military options. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said U.S. forces and a flotilla were being positioned in the region "just in case." CNN reached out to ICE and the White House for comment.

Separately, an attending physician at a major Tehran hospital who treated wounded demonstrators told CNN that deporting refugees now would be a grave mistake. Speaking on condition of anonymity because he fears reprisals, the doctor warned that such actions would scare Iranians living abroad, including green-card holders, and risk targeting ordinary people rather than Iran's government.

CNN's Max Saltman contributed to this report.