The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed suit against federal agencies after the U.S. State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement allegedly disclosed protected information about asylum seekers to Iran starting in March 2025. The disclosure continued despite ongoing hostilities between the two nations.
The lawsuit targets the federal government's sharing of detainee data with a regime designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund argues this practice violates asylum seekers' constitutional rights and statutory protections under immigration law. Many of the individuals whose information was shared fled Iran specifically due to political persecution or religious persecution.
ICE maintains databases containing sensitive biographical, family connection, and location information about detained immigrants. Revealing such details to foreign governments creates severe safety risks. Asylum seekers from Iran face particular danger if their identities reach Iranian authorities, as they could face retaliation, prosecution, or worse upon return.
The suit raises questions about the legal authority permitting such disclosures. The Privacy Act of 1974 generally restricts federal agencies from sharing personal records without consent. Immigration law also contains confidentiality provisions designed to protect asylum seekers. The State Department's diplomatic negotiations with Iran do not automatically override these statutory safeguards.
The timing compounds the legal problems. March 2025 marked an escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, making any information-sharing agreement particularly troubling. Continuing the practice despite the heightened conflict demonstrates the government prioritized diplomatic channels over individual safety.
The case tests whether executive branch officials can invoke foreign policy or national security justifications to circumvent privacy statutes protecting vulnerable populations. Federal courts have previously held that even national security concerns do not provide blanket exemptions from constitutional due process rights. The outcome will affect how courts evaluate government disclosures affecting asylum seekers' fundamental safety and freedom.