Chicago – July 07, 2026
U.S. immigration agencies illegally shared confidential details of Iranian asylum seekers with Iran, a new lawsuit alleges, putting vulnerable people at grave risk.
The complaint, filed by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and Public Citizen in federal court in Washington, says the State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement began monthly meetings with Iranian officials in March 2025, using Pakistan’s embassy as an intermediary, and provided sensitive asylum-file information that federal rules forbid sharing.
The suit alleges files included applicants’ reasons for fleeing—conversion to Christianity, sexual orientation, and participation in anti-government protests—exposing them to possible persecution if the material reached Tehran.
Plaintiffs argue the practice violated late-1990s immigration regulations prohibiting disclosure that someone applied for asylum and seek court orders to stop the transfers and notify affected people. Government spokespeople have not publicly confirmed the alleged disclosures; litigation seeks discovery to determine who authorized the exchanges and whether detainees were pressured to return.
Human-rights advocates warn the revelations could endanger dissidents and LGBT Iranians and undermine trust in U.S. asylum protections.
