World · Middle East · 18 hrs ago
US flight carrying Iranian detainees is canceled, attorney says
A US deportation flight carrying at least eight Iranian detainees was canceled on Sunday, according to an attorney who spoke with them.
The detainees had boarded a plane in Mesa, Arizona, bound for Georgia and then Pakistan, with Iran as the planned final destination.
The Trump administration had told a court it planned to deport Iranians to Iran, even as war there continues.
A lawsuit by the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund alleges that US officials illegally shared confidential asylum information with Iranian officials.
At least a dozen detainees say Iranian officials knew sensitive details about their asylum claims, raising concerns about their safety if returned.
A federal judge has ordered the government to give advance notice of any deportation plans and five days’ written notice before carrying them out.
The judge has not ruled on the lawsuit, and the government filed sealed court documents on Sunday after the canceled flight.
A U.S. deportation flight carrying at least eight Iranian nationals was abruptly canceled Sunday morning, according to an attorney who spoke with detainees.
The flight was loaded in Mesa, Arizona, and was planned to travel through Georgia and Pakistan toward Iran.
Attorney Ali Rahnama said the flight was canceled without explanation.
The cancellation came amid legal challenges over plans to deport Iranian nationals while war is ongoing in Iran.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on prospective removal operations.
- Who
- At least eight Iranian nationals were scheduled to be deported. Attorney Ali Rahnama reported the cancellation.
- What
- A deportation flight was canceled after detainees boarded.
- When
- Sunday morning; the article was published November 8, 2026.
- Where
- The flight boarded in Mesa, Arizona, and was planned to travel via Georgia and Pakistan to Iran.
- Why
- The reason for the cancellation was not stated.
U.S. government
Iranian American Legal Defense Fund
Deportations
U.S. government
The administration said it was using lawful options to carry out its deportation operation.
Iranian American Legal Defense Fund
The fund has sought to halt deportations, arguing that returnees could face danger and that the government may have violated court notice requirements.
Flight details
U.S. government
DHS said it does not comment on prospective removal operations, including schedules or destinations.
Iranian American Legal Defense Fund
The fund filed an account of the planned Sunday flight in court and argued that advance-notice requirements may have been violated.
The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit alleging the U.S. government illegally shared confidential asylum information with Iranian officials.
Court records showed the administration had said it planned to deport Iranian nationals to Iran through an unnamed third country.
Roughly a dozen Iranian nationals in detention said they had been told they were scheduled for a deportation flight via Pakistan to Iran.
At least eight Iranian nationals boarded a flight in Mesa, Arizona, but the flight was canceled.
The fund filed court documents describing the planned flight and arguing that the administration may have violated the judge’s notice directive.
- Detainees aboard
- At least 8 Iranian nationals
- Departure point
- Mesa, Arizona
- Planned route
- Georgia, then Pakistan, then Iran
- Attorney
- Ali Rahnama, Iranian American Legal Defense Fund
- Court notice
- 24 hours for notice of finalized plans; 5 days’ written notice before deportation
- Prior deportations
- Over 100 Iranian nationals on 3 flights between September 2025 and January 2026
What people are saying
As promised, the Trump Administration is employing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history
prospective removal operations, including flight schedules, passenger manifests, destinations, or individual case details