US deports Iranian after 20 years of residence: what is behind Trump's new policy - Rezazade

The administration of US President Donald Trump has begun to actively apply old orders to expel Iranian citizens, even those who have lived in the US for decades. One such case was Reza Zavvar, an Iranian who left his homeland more than 40 years ago and has lived in the US since 2009.

In late June, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents right outside his home in Maryland while he was walking his dog. The basis was a 2007 deportation order, which, according to Zavvar, was previously considered "frozen" due to a decision to postpone execution. Now, after the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, the White House has begun to publicly emphasize “tough measures” against Iranian citizens, both with and without criminal convictions.

Ali Reza Rezazade, the first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington and an international analyst, notes in a commentary that this approach is an element of political signaling, not exclusively a security measure.

“We see that the deportations of Iranians to the US have now become part of a public strategy to pressure Tehran. The Trump administration is demonstrating toughness, but at the same time creating the risk of persecuting those who do not pose a real threat to the country’s security,” Rezazade emphasizes.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, 11 Iranians have been detained in recent months on criminal charges, including drug trafficking, child abuse, and weapons charges. However, in Zavvar’s case, the government did not press charges in court, other than old minor offenses related to marijuana.

Rezazade emphasizes that such cases can undermine the international image of the United States as a country that guarantees human rights.

“If deportations are carried out without a proper individual risk assessment and real grounds, it turns from a security tool into an instrument of political demonstration. This can also negatively affect relations with the Iranian diaspora, which is often an important partner in the fight against the regime in Tehran,” the expert emphasizes.

The trial is currently ongoing, and Zavvar’s defense is insisting on his release and the cancellation of his deportation to Romania or Australia — countries with which he has no personal or family ties.