The Trump administration is facing serious allegations of compromising the safety of Iranian asylum seekers by sharing their confidential information with the Iranian government. A lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C, by the Public Citizen Litigation Group on behalf of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund claims that since, the administration has been periodically sharing immigration files of Iranians in custody with Iranian officials.
The lawsuit highlights the grave risks faced by asylum seekers if their information is disclosed to the Iranian government. According to Michael Kirkpatrick, an attorney with Public Citizen, the shared information could lead to detention, interrogation, imprisonment, or even torture of the asylum seekers and their families still in Iran.
Allegations of Confidentiality Breaches
The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has been sharing detailed information from asylum applications during monthly meetings between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Iranian Interests Section. These meetings reportedly stopped after the U.S. attacked Iran in February, but the sharing of documents continued. The administration has reportedly sent three deportation flights with over 100 people to Iran, with others being deported to third countries like Panama and the Central African Republic.
The shared information includes identifying details, familial relationships, political opinions, and reasons for fearing the Iranian government. This disclosure violates federal regulations that protect the confidentiality of asylum applications. The lawsuit states that the detainees provided this information with the understanding that it would not be shared with the Iranian government.
The Risks of Information Sharing
The lawsuit emphasizes that the shared information could reveal sensitive details such as participation in pro-democracy demonstrations, membership in the LGBTQ community, or conversion to Christianity—all of which could put individuals at risk of persecution in Iran. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to freeze the information sharing temporarily and for those whose information has been shared to be personally notified.
The Homeland Security Department and the State Department have not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations also did not respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and the Department of State as defendants.
The Legal and Humanitarian Implications
The lawsuit argues that disclosing confidential information to the Iranian government violates the asylum seekers’ confidentiality rights and puts them at risk of persecution, torture, and death upon return to Iran. It also endangers their family members and acquaintances who may still be residing in Iran.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the sharing of information about asylum seekers with the Iranian government and appoint an independent monitor to prevent future disclosures. The allegations come amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, which has resulted in over 600,000 deportations and caused roughly 1.9 million immigrants to voluntarily leave in 2026 alone.
The lawsuit highlights the urgent need to protect the confidentiality of asylum seekers and the potential consequences of failing to do so. It serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those seeking refuge from oppressive regimes and the importance of upholding their rights.
