The Story of 120 Iranians Deported from the United States
WANA (Oct 07) – More than 120 Iranian migrants have been deported from the United States and returned to Tehran, in what Iranian officials describe as part of the process of repatriating citizens under consular cooperation with Washington.
The flight departed from Louisiana and, after stops in Egypt and Qatar, landed at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran. Most of the passengers—primarily young men—were transported in handcuffs and leg shackles. Many had lived in the U.S. for years and were now returning to Iran following decisions by U.S. immigration authorities.
Hussein Noushabadi, Director General for Parliamentary Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that this group represents the first phase of returning Iranian nationals from the United States. He noted that discussions had previously considered deporting around “300 to 400 people.”
Videos shared on social media from some of the returnees at Tehran airport depict their transfer process. In one video, a returnee explains: “They put us on the plane in handcuffs and leg shackles, from Louisiana to Egypt, then to Qatar. The marks from the handcuffs are still on my hands.”
A family ready for leaving the country. Social media/ WANA News Agency
In another video, a man who had lived in the U.S. for ten years said: “I never received any support from the government. Iran used to send me money. One morning, immigration officers came and detained me without any prior notice.”
Media access to these individuals is limited, but similar accounts on social media provide details about their detention and transfer.
Strict immigration policies in the United States began during Donald Trump’s first presidency and continued with adjustments under subsequent administrations. At the time, officials often stated that only “criminals and those with a criminal record” were targeted for deportation, though official statistics paint a different picture.
According to 2025 data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), about 90% of deported Iranians had no criminal record. Only 7% were detained for immigration-related administrative violations, and roughly 3% were accused of minor offenses, such as street fights or petty theft.
Foreign Ministry: Iran to Receive 120 Nationals Returning from the U.S.
WANA (Sep 30) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that 120 citizens will return from the United States in the coming days. The announcement came alongside a report in The New York Times, which claimed that Washington, following an agreement with Tehran, deported about 100 Iranians on a chartered flight. Hossein Nushabadi, Director General […]
Meanwhile, 41% of deportations were classified under “contrary to U.S. national security interests,” and 85% of individuals were not given the opportunity for judicial defense or to appear before an immigration court. Most of these deportations were executed via “expedited removal,” a process that human rights organizations report has limited transparency.
These returnees’ narratives highlight the gap between public perceptions of migration to the U.S. and the realities of its administrative and security systems. Many had entered the country through migration companies or informal channels, without full awareness of the legal complexities of staying in the U.S.
One deported migrant said: “No one told us what an immigration detention was. We thought our case was just being reviewed, but they kept us like prisoners.”
People waiting in que for getting their passports checked. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Iranian officials emphasize that the return of these 120 individuals was “coordinated” and carried out under consular cooperation between the two countries. While further details of the next phases have not been released, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has indicated that additional groups could also be repatriated.
The 40-hour flight from Louisiana was, for its passengers, more than just a return home. It marked a crossing between two legal systems and two different understandings of migration. For them, this journey was not voluntary—it was the outcome of an administrative decision that began with a signature and ended with a landing in Tehran.
