U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Trump Administration Shared Information of Iranian Detainees with Iran

The Trump administration provided Iranian officials in Washington with access to sensitive information about Iranian asylum seekers detained in the United States, according to documents filed in a federal lawsuit. The documents claim this access occurred in the months leading up to war between the United States and Iran and included details about the detainees’ reasons for fleeing Iran.

The filings, submitted in Federal District Court in Washington, detail interactions that resulted in the deportation of over 100 Iranians to Tehran between September 2025 and January 2026. This period ended shortly before U.S. military action commenced against Iran in February 2026.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reiterated a previous statement refuting the lawsuit’s allegations, but did not comment on the latest details revealed in the Wednesday filings. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, a civil rights organization, filed the declarations to support claims that the Trump administration had unlawfully shared confidential information with the Iranian government. The lawsuit alleges that this exposure has put numerous Iranians at risk of persecution.

One key filing features Cyrus Mehri, a lawyer and board member for the fund. Mr. Mehri detailed a call and meeting with an Iranian official earlier this year. The official reportedly maintained regular communication with ICE regarding U.S. deportation activities. Mr. Mehri described the contact as starting with an “unexpected and unsolicited” call from the official, whom he had previously met. Despite their opposing positions, the Iranian official shared his insights on the deportation discussions.

According to Mr. Mehri’s account, the Iranian official conveyed that the Trump administration aimed to “get rid of all Iranians” detained in the United States. The official also shared that initial details about individuals fleeing the regime in Tehran were exchanged by State Department personnel.