Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand Donald Trump immediately end deportation flights to Iran.
Last month, reports confirmed that Trump resumed the deportation of dozens of Iranians, many of whom could be persecuted, tortured, or even executed if forced to return to Iran. That reporting came amid massive demonstrations in Iran, the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters, and threats from Trump to use U.S. military force against the current Iranian regime.
“Given Iran’s horrific human rights record, we are deeply concerned that the Trump administration is returning people to a country where they may be persecuted or tortured, in violation of U.S. and international law,” the senators wrote to Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. “As you know, the United States has long been a safe haven for Iranians fleeing oppression and persecution by the Iranian regime because of their political ideology, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. In the eyes of the regime, some of these ‘crimes’ are punishable by death, and deportees have stated they’ll likely face such sentences if sent back to Iran.”
“…despite your acknowledgement of the Iranian government’s wanton disregard for basic human rights, the Trump administration has chosen to return Iranian citizens to the very place that they fled for their lives,” the senators continued.
“Throughout your career in the Senate, you were an advocate for Cubans escaping oppression and persecution by the Castro regime and for the protection of political dissidents and religious minorities around the world. We were glad to work with you on these issues,” the senators concluded. “Now we ask you and the Trump administration to ensure that the United States does not violate U.S. and international law by returning people who have a well-founded fear of persecution and torture by the brutal Iranian regime.”
The letter was led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Mark Warner, D-Va., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif.
The full letter is here.
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