Sudden Collapse of Hope for Refugees Following US Deportation Program

Harrowing details have emerged of the deportation of hundreds of Iranians from the United States who, according to their own accounts, were boarded onto aircraft under threats to their lives, in handcuffs, and by force, with many Christians who were returned to Iran revealing the collapse of their hopes.

The “New York Times” reported in late September 2025 that the US government, in cooperation with Iran, returned dozens of Iranians on a charter flight from Louisiana to Iran. According to accounts from the deportees that have recently emerged, American officials boarded them with their hands and feet bound, by force, and against their wishes.

One of them, 34-year-old “Mehrdad Delir,” said about this: “They told me either you board the plane yourself, or we’ll bind your hands and feet and return you.” He also added about one of his fellow passengers: “When the bus reached the stairs of the plane at Alexandria Airport in Louisiana, he was terrified and crying, shouting: ‘They will kill me in Iran. Don’t send me back, please.’ According to Mehrdad Delir, when this person refused to board the plane, several officers carried him up the stairs and forced him into a seat.

Another person, who is a Christian and whose name has not been disclosed for security reasons and is referred to by the identity “A.A.,” describes to Mehrdad Delir that day and how he feared returning to Iran. “A.A.” stated: “When I entered the airport on another bus, I saw officers forcibly taking Mr. Delir toward the plane. He said that Mehrdad, in resistance, locked the bus doors on himself and tied his hands to the seats. Nevertheless, immigration officers broke into the bus and dragged him out. Mehrdad, realizing I was Christian, shouted at that time: ‘Before you take me to the plane, you have to kill me.'”

Delir and at least eight others, including 16 Christian citizens and several political opponents, had repeatedly warned American authorities that their return to Iran posed a “threat to their lives.” However, the US government claims that all these individuals received “final deportation forms” or orders of “voluntary departure” and had access to fair legal proceedings.

This operation, which lasted approximately 50 hours and included stops in “Puerto Rico,” “Cairo,” and “Doha,” is considered the first such cooperation between Tehran and Washington in the deportation of Iranians.

Tehran has announced that more than 400 Iranians in America face deportation under the program, with more flights under review.

From a human rights perspective, organizations have warned that returning individuals who may face persecution, imprisonment, or even punishment in their country of origin may violate the principle of “non-refoulement to danger.”

This issue is of special importance to the Christian community in Iran and outside Iran, as some of the deported individuals, including Christian citizens, have faced persecution, interrogation, passport confiscation, or travel bans in Iran.

One immigration attorney representing a returned Christian citizen stated: “The current administration does not prioritize the cases of the deported and ignores the serious dangers facing Iranians who seek refuge at our borders.”

The teaching of “authentic Christianity,” the preservation of human dignity, and hospitality in Christian teachings stand in contrast to operations such as this forced return, as returning to a country from which an individual has fled due to religion or belief may worsen their circumstances.

The United States has issued statements asserting that all legal procedures were followed and Iran has stated that the returns are without obstruction. However, the accounts of those returned demonstrate a contradiction between on-the-ground realities and official statements.

It should be noted that this matter goes beyond a routine immigration operation, as it involves individuals who, due to their religion, beliefs, or sexual orientation, may face serious danger in Iran.