US ICE deported several Russian citizens to Iran in 2025

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported several Russian citizens to Iran in 2025.

TodayPress TV reports, citing the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), that RTVI.US published the information.

NIAC pointed out that a court had prohibited the deportation to the Islamic Republic of Russian citizens whose Iranian passports had not been processed.

ICE’s deportation decision was made last June amid Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, a total of 577 Iranian citizens were detained in the United States in 2025.

According to NIAC, the deportations were organized by Todd Lyons, who was serving as acting director of the immigration agency at the time, along with other senior ICE officials.

According to the report, several emails concerning logistical arrangements for the operation mentioned the involvement of Qatar’s special forces, Lekhwiya, which is responsible for maintaining internal security.

At least one ICE employee maintained close contact during the operation with Iran’s Interests Section operating at the Embassy of Pakistan in the United States. At the same time, the employee sought to add new individuals to the deportation lists, citing humanitarian reasons.

Earlier, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been prohibited from investigating incidents involving US immigration enforcement officers.

Giymat Mahir