The United States government says it will soon send 120 Iranians back to Tehran. This action marks a monumental day of collaboration and partnership between the two countries. Iran Hossein Noushabadi, the foreign ministry’s consular affairs official, confirmed the deportation. According to him, it will be launched in the very near future.
Neither is it clear who exactly is being deported. Furthermore, it is not clear at first glance why these people were trying to immigrate to the United States. Witness reports have indicated some Iranians had volunteered to remove themselves from consideration after months in detention facilities. For others, the choice to leave was not theirs to make.
This Iranian expatriate’s deportation comes on the heels of months of negotiation between the US and Iran. The latest incident is emblematic of changing diplomatic bonds, since deportations have long been a flashpoint in U.S.–Mexico relations. The context in which these deportations are occurring is especially important given US President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging, anti-immigrant policies.
In February, the US had just recently deported 119 people, including Iranian people, to Panama. Trump has promised to increase deportations by an order of magnitude. He’s seeking to break a new record for people removed from the United States who don’t have legal status. As an engineer, he has always maintained that these are the necessary measures. He attributes the record high spike in illegal border crossings to policies implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
As for the 120 Iranians, they are due back in their home country later this week.
“One hundred and twenty people should be deported and flown home over the next couple of days.” – Hossein Noushabadi