Earlier court filings and
emails show the administration held talks with Iran on deportations that took place last year and shortly before the war. But the revelation that it was maintaining those contacts even after the war broke out highlighted the administration's resolve in carrying out its hardline immigration crackdown, which has involved ramping up removals, including to places that critics say could endanger the lives of the returnees.
"We are at war with a country where the President of the United States has said, as recently as two or three days ago, if not yesterday, that it is essentially lawless ... A country that is an enemy of the United States, according to the current president. A country that, according to our president, murdered tens of thousands of protestors," Judge Ana Reyes said according to the Oct. 15 transcript.
"And what you're telling me is that the United States of America is going to send individuals back to that region, facing what you and I and everyone who would ever look at this would know would be, at a minimum, a serious threat of certain death."
"Yes, your honor," Justice Department attorney Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel said. "The government is executing lawful orders of removal." Georgiev-Remmel told the court there was no specific date set to carry out any removals.
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