US Delays Deportation of Iranian Citizens Due to Conflict in the Middle East

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Benny Rotlevy

JAKARTA - Military operations against Iran have disrupted US efforts to deport Iranian migrants.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have long complicated deportations to Iran. Still, several such flights have taken place since late last year, the report said.

However, the administration of US President Donald Trump said in court documents that a chartered flight scheduled for this week was canceled because deportation flights to Iran had been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing military conflict, the media added.

Federal judges are now considering whether Iranian detainees held by ICE have prospects of being deported in the near future.

Otherwise, the court could begin to release them from immigration detention or allow them to apply for release via a bail hearing, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security told Politico, they will deport anyone who does not have the legal right to stay in the United States.

"We will continue to use all legal options to deport illegal immigrants," the department said in a statement quoted by Sputnik.

Previously on February 28, the United States and Israel launched an attack on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, on the day of his inauguration as the 47th president, Trump promised to immediately stop illegal immigration and start mass deportations from the United States. He also declared a national emergency to address the US border crisis.