US to deport 40 Iranians amid Iran protest crackdown, including two facing death

The Trump administration is preparing to deport about 40 Iranian nationals back to Iran, with flights scheduled to depart Sunday from Phoenix, Arizona, according to a statement from the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). This would be the first deportation flight to Iran since mass protests that began in early January and were violently repressed by authorities.

The NIAC, an Iranian-American NGO, condemns the move as sending people back into danger after US President Donald Trump had initially threatened military strikes in response to the crackdown. The deportations would follow earlier removals in September and December.

Among those facing deportation are two gay men currently held in an Arizona detention center, who could face execution in Iran where homosexuality is punishable by death, reports the American Immigration Council, which is representing them. Legal proceedings to block their deportation are still ongoing.

The deportations proceed despite Iran's ongoing instability following protests that left thousands dead. US authorities have not publicly confirmed the plans, and Iran's diplomat in the US has only acknowledged the pending removals.

What does this mean for asylum seekers fleeing repression? With the US government returning people to a country facing human rights crises, should countries prioritize immigration enforcement or humanitarian protection during political unrest?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/25/us-preparing-to-deport-iranians-despite-unrest-killings-ngo/