LOS ANGELES – A U.S. deportation flight intended to return Iranian nationals to Iran was unexpectedly canceled on Sunday morning. This cancellation was confirmed by an attorney who had spoken with some of the detainees scheduled for repatriation.
At least eight Iranian nationals were reportedly loaded onto a plane in Mesa, Arizona, for a deportation flight that was supposed to take them first to Georgia and then to Pakistan. According to Ali Rahnama, an attorney with the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, the flight was canceled without any explanation.
Recently unsealed court documents from a civil lawsuit filed by the advocacy group revealed that the Trump administration had plans to deport these Iranian nationals to Iran as recently as mid-October, despite ongoing conflict in the region. The lawsuit claims the U.S. government illegally shared sensitive information about asylum seekers with Iranian officials.
Between September 2025 and January 2026, there were three deportation flights to Iran, resulting in the removal of over 100 Iranian nationals. The administration’s confirmation of new deportation plans amidst the ongoing war underscores its commitment to a strict immigration policy, which critics argue puts the lives of returnees at risk.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on these deportation operations. In a statement, they noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not disclose details about flight schedules or individual cases. However, they emphasized that the Trump administration aims to execute what they call the “largest deportation operation in history.”
Although the administration did not provide a specific timeline for the deportations, some Iranian nationals in immigration detention received notifications about an upcoming flight to Pakistan and then to Iran. This information was confirmed by various lawyers working on these cases.
Rahnama mentioned that the detainees who boarded the flight were visited by an official from the Iranian Interests Section, which represents Iranian consular interests in the U.S. This official informed them that the Iranian government would facilitate their transportation from Pakistan to Iran.
The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund has expressed grave concerns over the safety of these individuals. They argue that many detainees reported being contacted by Iranian officials who seemed to have knowledge of their asylum claims, raising fears of potential repercussions upon their return.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes has yet to make a ruling on the claims presented in the lawsuit. However, she mandated that the government must provide 24-hour notice before any deportations are finalized and a five-day written notice before any deportations take place.
In a recent court filing, the defense fund outlined their knowledge of the planned removal flight and argued that the administration may have violated the judge’s directive regarding advance notice for deportations. Later that day, the government submitted sealed court documents related to the case, making them unavailable to the public.
The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund has called for a suspension of these removal flights, stating that they could represent the first deportation of Iranians to Iran since the onset of the U.S.-Iran war. Yasmin Chubin, the group’s executive director, expressed bewilderment over the decision to forcibly return Iranians, especially asylum seekers, during a time of military conflict.
Chubin stressed that the consequences of such deportations could be severe, potentially leading to persecution, torture, or even death for those returned to Iran. Interestingly, at least one detainee who was part of the canceled flight expressed a desire to return to Iran after enduring nearly two years of detention, highlighting the desperation felt by some individuals in these circumstances.
This situation remains fluid, with advocacy groups closely monitoring the developments surrounding the deportation plans and their implications for the affected individuals.
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Associated Press reporter Sarah Rankin contributed to this report.
