ISLAMABAD: The United States is poised to deport dozens of Iraniannationals back to their home country as early as this Sunday according tosources cited by CNN marking a significant escalation in immigrationenforcement under the current administration. This planned flight comesamid heightened tensions following anti-government protests in Iran andPresident Trump’s public threats against the regime over its crackdown ondemonstrators. The operation represents the first reported deportation toIran since widespread unrest began drawing international attention to humanrights conditions there.
Reports indicate that the deportation drive extends far beyond Iraniannationals encompassing individuals from various countries as part of acomprehensive policy to increase removals of those present without legalauthorization. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted flights toat least twenty-five nations in recent periods with overall enforcementactions affecting dozens of countries. This broad approach has resulted inrecord-level activities since early 2025 with cumulative departuresincluding enforced and voluntary removals exceeding several hundredthousand.
Among Asian nationalities Pakistanis have been notably impacted withcredible accounts reporting approximately three hundred Pakistani nationalsdeported amid the intensified crackdown. Earlier instances include a groupof eight Pakistanis repatriated via direct flight in February 2025 whileadditional cases involve individuals removed following visa denials orfailed immigration processes. Pakistan features among destinationsreceiving repatriations under the expanded scope reflecting bilateralcooperation on immigration matters despite occasional diplomaticdiscussions.
Indian nationals have also faced deportations within this framework thoughspecific large-scale flights to India receive less prominent coveragecompared to other groups. Enforcement actions target various immigrationviolators including overstays and asylum claim rejections leading toremovals across South Asian communities. Broader statistics from theDepartment of Homeland Security highlight removals to countries in Asia theMiddle East Africa and Latin America underscoring a policy not limited byregion but focused on compliance with immigration laws.
Middle Eastern countries beyond Iran have seen inclusion in the latestdrive with deportations affecting nationals from several nations in theregion. Venezuela stands out prominently as authorities there agreed toaccept additional flights amid diplomatic pressures contributing toheightened removals from that country. The administration’s emphasis oncharter flights and expedited processes has facilitated operations todiverse destinations even those previously accepting fewer deportees.
Official data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveals a sharp risein detention numbers reaching record highs with over seventy thousandindividuals held as of mid-January 2026. This surge correlates withincreased enforcement yielding monthly flight volumes at elevated levelsthroughout late 2025 and into the current year. Removals prioritizeindividuals with no legal status though operations encompass a wide rangeof cases including those with pending claims or prior violations.
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The policy aligns with stated priorities to secure borders and enforceexisting laws resulting in millions of departures when combining enforcedremovals and self-departures. Department statements emphasize historicscale with figures indicating substantial progress toward reducingunauthorized presence. Critics including human rights organizations expressconcerns over deportations to countries facing instability or persecutionrisks particularly in cases involving Iran amid ongoing crackdowns.
This deportation surge reflects a shift toward aggressive immigrationcontrol with implications for bilateral relations diplomatic engagementsand affected communities worldwide. As operations continue monitoringdevelopments remains essential particularly regarding specificnationalities and flight schedules which authorities often withhold forsecurity reasons. The inclusion of diverse groups highlights theadministration’s commitment to comprehensive enforcement withoutnationality-based exemptions.
Source:https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/politics/trump-administration-deport-iranians
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