The Christian converts the US is deporting back to Iran
Getty ImagesOne Monday in mid-October, after a year in US immigration detention, Majid, an Iranian Christian, unexpectedly found himself shackled and moved towards deportation despite having previously secured an asylum ruling in his favor.
After enduring torture during protests and converting to Christianity, he fled to the US, only to be forced onto a flight of deportees where he felt endangered as the only non-Latin American on board.
His journey to return to Iran put him directly in the path of potential persecution, as he navigated a precarious situation of evading authorities once back in Iran.
Majid's story is not singular; many other Iranian Christians face similar fates amid inconsistencies in U.S. immigration policy and the risks posed to them upon return.
A rare deportation flight
The new policy has seen unprecedented cooperation between the U.S. and Iran for deportations, notably a chartered flight taking Iranian nationals, a stark contrast to the norms of the past decades.
Recent deportees have reported feeling the presence of armed guards and subsequent threats upon arrival, raising alarm bells about the treatment awaiting all returnees.
Why returning is dangerous for Christian converts
Around 800,000 Christians live in Iran, and many are converts from Islam who face severe repercussions including potential arrest and imprisonment if identified as Christians.
Increased persecution of converted Christians has been noted, exacerbated by recent geopolitical tensions.
Life on hold for those left behind
Legal outcomes regarding asylum are inconsistent, further compounding the anxiety faced by those remaining in the U.S. while awaiting a verdict.
The stories of Marjan and Reza showcase the unpredictability of the immigration system, where family members can find themselves in disparate situations despite facing the same threats.
Repeated summonings and threats on their families in Iran reflect the wider risks of deportation and raise questions on the reliability of the U.S. immigration processes for those with valid claims.
