US gave Tehran secret data on Iranian asylum seekers, lawsuit alleges

A lawsuit filed in Washington alleges that the Trump administration is unlawfully sharing confidential personal information of Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government. The complaint states that this private data includes details about pro-democracy protesters, religious minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community who applied for asylum to escape grave danger in Iran. The lawsuit claims that the US is providing this information to Iran, where asylum seekers could face persecution, torture, and death if deported. The core of the lawsuit is the accusation that this data sharing is a violation of asylum seekers' rights and puts them at severe risk.

A lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration's immigration agencies illegally shared confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government, violating federal regulations and endangering individuals. The lawsuit claims a coordinated effort between the U.S. and Iranian governments to identify and pressure Iranians in U.S. immigration custody to return to Iran, even during an ongoing war. This information reportedly included details about asylum claims related to religious conversion, sexuality, and participation in protests. The lawsuit seeks to stop the sharing of such information and implement an independent monitor. The Department of Homeland Security and State Department have not commented. The allegations arise during a period of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which included multiple deportation flights of Iranians back to Iran.