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2mo ago

Lawsuit Says U.S. Shared Iranian Asylum Files With Tehran

If true, the alleged disclosures could expose asylum seekers and their relatives in Iran to detention, torture or death.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security seal is displayed ahead of an expected press conference at the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 24, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
FILE - Motorbikes and cars pass through an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
Reza Bahrami, a political refugee from Iran, poses for a portrait on March 2, 2026. Bahrami works at Jordan Market, a Middle Eastern and Persian market along Westwood Boulevard, in Los Angeles.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks over as he speaks with members of the media before departing from Bahrain International Airport after his visit to the Middle East.

Overview

  • The complaint, filed Tuesday, says the sharing began in March 2025 when State Department and ICE officials held monthly meetings using the Pakistani embassy’s Iranian Interests Section and later mailed or hand-delivered immigration files.
  • Plaintiffs say the materials included asylum applications and detailed claims of persecution for converting to Christianity, sexual orientation, and protest activity, and that some detainees were compelled to meet Iranian officials who already knew case details.
  • The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and Public Citizen asked a Washington judge for emergency relief to stop further disclosures, appoint a special master to review shared files, notify affected detainees, and pause removals while the court reviews the claims.
  • The Department of Homeland Security and ICE denied the allegations as false and said they follow established protocols to obtain travel documents and facilitate consular access for detainees.
  • The suit cites public records showing roughly 600 Iranians in U.S. detention last year and more than 100 deported on at least three flights, says some sharing continued after the Feb. 28 strikes that escalated the U.S.-Iran conflict, and leaves open immediate court battles over evidence and remedies.