US Deportation Plan Sends Iranian Man to Australia Amidst Controversy

Maryland Resident with No Australian Ties Faces Removal Based on Decades-Old Drug Conviction

A U.S. resident of Iranian descent, Reza Zavvar, faces deportation to Australia, a country with which he has no connection, despite living in the United States since 1985. His lawyer states the move is linked to a marijuana possession conviction from the 1990s.

Unusual Deportation Target

Immigration authorities apprehended Mr. Zavvar, a 52-year-old recruiter from Maryland, in late June while he was walking his dog. He was subsequently detained in Texas, with officials informing him of their intention to deport him to either Australia or Romania. A court order prevents his return to Iran due to fears of persecution.

“How they picked those countries is a mystery to me.”

—Ava Benach, Lawyer

Mr. Zavvar‘s family, friends, and neighbors are rallying support and fundraising for his legal defense. They describe him as a pillar of his community, known for assisting elderly neighbors and providing meals to those in need. He also recently moved in with his mother to help care for his grandmother.

Questioning the Destination: Why Australia?

This case highlights a deportation strategy increasingly employed by the administration, targeting individuals for removal to countries with no prior links, sometimes using minor past offenses as justification. Immigration lawyers are reportedly unfamiliar with Australia being used as a destination in such cases.

“Most of us in the immigration bar have been hearing about cases being sent to Central and South America. Normally, what we’ve been seeing is that the Trump administration is targeting countries where they feel they have some leverage, that they feel they can push around and bully. Australia is not a country that we would normally consider to be in such a position.”

—Mahsa Khanbabai, Elected Director, American Immigration Lawyers Association

The Australian government has stated it has not been contacted by U.S. authorities regarding this matter and has made no new immigration agreements with the Trump administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have not provided clarification on why Australia was chosen, with a DHS spokesperson stating only that ICE is seeking a country “willing to accept this criminal illegal alien.”

A Community’s Beloved Figure

Mr. Zavvar‘s sister emphasized his deep roots in Maryland, calling him a “gentle giant” during his high school football days for his kind nature off the field. Though he held a green card for permanent residency, a past conviction for attempted possession of a controlled substance has been used to jeopardize his status.

While a judge previously issued a “withholding of removal” order preventing his return to Iran, DHS maintains his conviction remains grounds for deportation. A department official commented, “Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the US,” adding that Mr. Zavvar “had almost 20 years to self-deport.”

Shifting Deportation Policies

The administration’s approach appears to align with efforts to secure agreements with other nations for deporting individuals who cannot be sent back to their home countries. This practice, including sending migrants to third countries, is reportedly rare in the U.S. immigration system, with some lawyers likening it to practices seen in the UK.

Recent deals have seen small numbers of migrants sent to countries like South Sudan and Eswatini. Rwanda has also agreed to accept up to 250 deportees, citing its own history of displacement and societal values of reintegration.

Targeting Iranians?

Advocates suggest that Mr. Zavvar‘s case may be part of a broader trend of increased detention of Iranians, particularly following recent U.S. air strikes in June. Many affected individuals reportedly have clean records, raising concerns about whether the administration’s focus is truly on criminal activity or broader targeting.

“The Trump administration claimed that they were going to be going after criminals, yet the vast majority of people, including the Iranians, don’t have any serious criminal offences or any at all. And so we’re trying to figure out, is there an uptick of this focus on Iranians … or is this just part of the massive targeting of and scapegoating of immigrants?”

—Mahsa Khanbabai, Lawyer

Mr. Zavvar‘s lawyer speculates that the arrest may have been intended to “make a show” in the political climate following U.S. military actions, suggesting it could be a publicity tactic rather than a definitive deportation plan.