Departure stopped – Planned deportation of Iranians canceled at short notice

A deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals from the USA was canceled at short notice on Sunday. According to a lawyer, at least eight of those affected had already been brought on board a plane in Mesa, Arizona. The flight was initially supposed to go to Georgia and from there to Pakistan. Why it was removed is unclear, said Ali Rahnama of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund.

In the past few days, according to several lawyers, around a dozen Iranian nationals in US detention have been informed of their impending repatriation. The US government had already confirmed corresponding plans in court documents in mid-October. The deportations should therefore take place via a third country to Iran - even though there has been a war there since February.

A US federal judge had ordered the government to inform the court 24 hours before final planning of a deportation to Iran or another country. She must also submit written notification five days before such deportation. The organization sees possible violations of these requirements. The US Department of Homeland Security initially declined to comment.