The administration of United States President Donald Trump deported about a dozen Iranian nationals on a flight that departed on Sunday, according to a source familiar with the operation who spoke to CNN.
The flight marked the first confirmed deportation of Iranians since widespread anti-government protests erupted across Iran, protests that have reportedly claimed thousands of lives.
President Trump has warned Tehran of retaliation should it proceed with executions of protesters.
While he has said his administration remains in communication with Iranian authorities, he has also refused to rule out military action.
A source said 14 Iranians were on board the deportation flight that left the US on Sunday.
CNN had earlier reported on Friday that dozens of Iranians were expected to be deported as early as Sunday.
However, several individuals who had initially been informed they would be on the flight were ultimately removed from the manifest due to exposure to measles.
A White House official explained that “while the administration does not typically comment on specific flights to protect operational security, any individuals being deported would have Executable Final Orders meaning a federal judge has ordered their removal from the United States.
The Administration remains committed to using all lawful options to carry out the largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”
CNN said it had contacted the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Iran’s mission to the United Nations for responses.
Bekah Wolf, an attorney representing two Iranian men who were initially slated for the flight, said her clients were placed in quarantine due to exposure to the highly contagious virus and were therefore not deported on Sunday.
Wolf stressed that the delay offers only temporary relief. The two men, who are gay, face “an extremely high chance” of execution if they are returned to Iran, she told CNN on Friday.
Both Wolf and the source familiar with the operation said additional deportation flights to Iran are expected.
Sunday’s flight was the third carried out under a rare arrangement between Washington and Tehran, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
One of the men, who spoke to CNN on Friday and requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals, pleaded directly with the US president.
“If you care about the people, please let us stay.”
“We are not bad human beings. We love this country. If we could live in this country, we will love it more than we love our homelands because our homeland is captured. It’s ruined. It’s destroyed by the government of Iran,” he said.
“We came to this country for safety,” he added.
The deportations have raised alarm among human rights advocates as Iran continues its crackdown on dissent.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported on Sunday that at least 5,520 protesters have been killed since demonstrations began in late December.
The figure includes 77 minors, with an additional 17,091 deaths still under review. HRANA also said 41,283 people have been arrested during the unrest.
