Dear John,
We hope you are holding up as well as possible during these trying and uncertain times .
We have an urgent update: NIAC has learned the Trump administration may imminently deport Iranians detained by ICE to Iran , with the flight set to deport as early as Sunday. As Trump promises Iranians "help is on the way," he is having ICE round Iranians up in the U.S. and forcibly sending them back into potential harm.
NIAC is calling on [[link removed]] the Trump administration to halt this flight and pressing for lawmakers to demand the flight to be stopped. This would mark the 3rd deportation flight to Iran. Past flights [[link removed]] have included vulnerable people who are political dissidents, religious converts, and minorities with credible fears of imprisonment, torture, and death if returned to Iran. Some deportees have reported being dragged onto the planes. Others said their passports were confiscated upon arrival in Iran and that they were summoned for questioning by Iranian intelligence.
In addition to this rapid mobilization, NIAC has held meetings with lawmakers and policymakers over the past several weeks amid the crisis in Iran. This is a time of great tragedy, as new details about the victims are revealed and the threat of more repression and war looms large. We are advising policymakers that the future of Iran must be decided by the Iranian people. For the U.S. to play any helpful role, it must do so responsibly and not co-opt the aspirations of Iranians or add to the bloodshed with more violence.
Based on input from our members and in solidarity with civil society in Iran, we are making the following 4 recommendations to U.S. decisionmakers and the UN:
1. Abstain from Military Intervention and End Threats of War


2. ​ Support a Reputable, Independent Investigation into Human Rights Violations


3. Halt Deportations to Iran and Immediately Restart Iranian Refugee, Asylum, and Visa Processing


4. Provide Relief for the Iranian People and Press Iranian Authorities to Comply with Human Rights Obligations


We formalized all of our recommendations in a public letter available on our website here [[link removed]] .
To begin to act on these recommendations, tomorrow, Friday January 23, the United Nations Human Rights Council will hold an Emergency Special Session on the worsening human rights crisis in Iran. This is a critical moment to demand accountability and ensure world leaders hear our call for justice.
We echo the ongoing campaign [[link removed]] to extend the investigation from 2022’s Women, Life Freedom movement to the supporting protestors in Iran today, urging that a full independent investigation be conducted to assess the toll and circumstances behind the mass deaths.
Finally, we invite you to join us on zoom next Friday, January 30 at 3:00 PM ET for “ Iran, the U.S., and Israel: How Did We Get Here? [[link removed]] ”— an online conversation hosted by NIAC & Massachusetts Peace Action. Jamal Abdi, Negar Mortazavi, and Stephen Kinzer will unpack the history behind today’s crisis and explore paths forward that help, not harm. >> RSVP here [[link removed]]
We will continue to stand with you demanding a future where Iranians shape their own destiny—free from repression, war, and collective punishment. By raising our voices, standing in solidarity with Iran’s civil society, and organizing ourselves, we affirm the right of Iranians and all people to freedom, justice, and self-determination.
Thank you,
Jamal Abdi President, NIAC[[link removed]]
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