Democrats push Trump admin to grant protection for Iranians in the US

More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers have signed a letter urging President Donald Trump’s administration to protect Iranians living in the United States who cannot safely return to Iran.

“We are writing to urge the Trump administration to immediately implement protective measures for Iranian citizens who are currently in the United States and cannot safely return home.” letter states.

“The administration should not forcibly return Iranian families in the United States to Iran—where they face the dual threat of the regime’s humanitarian abuses and the dangers of a resumption of war—and should therefore halt deportation flights and designate Iranians for temporary protection, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).”

US-IRAN ceasefire agreement hangs in balance as Israel and lebanon set for rare Washington talks

The letter accuses the Trump administration of “unlawfully launching attacks on Iran without constitutionally required congressional authorization, plunging millions of innocent civilians into an unsafe situation, and increasing the human cost of the conflict with each passing day.”

“The Trump administration, which started the current war with Iran, has a moral and humanitarian responsibility to immediately provide Iranian citizens with a shield against deportation,” the message states.

“The administration should also provide assistance to Iranians in the United States who are unable to return home by resuming the processing of immigration benefits and expediting the issuance of work authorization documents,” the letter said. The statement is included.

AFTER TRUMP-ALIGNED PODCASTS WARNED THAT HE WAS LOSING HIS COALITION BECAUSE OF BREAKED PROMISES

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak with the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on April 16, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The letter, dated April 23, was sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow.

The letter was addressed to Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Cory Booker of Delaware. Chris Coons, Sen. from California. Alex Padilla, Sen. from Nevada. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Adam Schiff of California, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. from Vermont. Peter Welch, Sen. of Oregon. It was signed by Reps. Ron Wyden and Reps. Dan Goldman of New York, Hank Johnson of Georgia. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Dave Min of California, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Brad Sherman of California, Lateefah Simon of California, and Del. of Washington DC. Eleanor Holmes Norton

FOX NEWS POLL: SPECTACULAR INCREASE IN SUPPORT FOR IRAN CONFLICT, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) speaks to then-U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025. He speaks with. (WIN MCNAMEE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Friday to request comment.

Rubio has withdrawn the legal permanent resident status of several individuals with ties to the Iranian regime. For example, Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Earlier this month, “the nephew and great-nephew of the late Islamic Revolutionary Guard Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani were arrested by federal agents after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated his lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.”

“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As stated in both press reports and her own social media comments, Soleimani Afshar is an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran,” the department’s April 4 announcement said.