Iranian Christian Converts Detained in Houston Face Imminent Deportation
Two Iranian Christian converts seeking asylum in the United States have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston since December. One of these individuals is in imminent danger of being deported back to Iran, where his safety is at severe risk.
For their protection, Houston Public Media has chosen to refer to the two individuals by the Farsi pseudonyms “Meheran” and “Amin.”
Pastor Blaine Hooper of the Refuge Church in southwest Houston shared that “Mr. Mehran was involved in a network of Christians from various countries surrounding Iran, working to spread the gospel for numerous years.” The efforts of such networks have often placed their members at significant risk.
Under Iran’s apostasy law, converting from Islam to Christianity can lead to harsh penalties, including the death penalty. “Both individuals presented themselves at the border during the Biden administration to request asylum,” Pastor Hooper explained. He added that upon arrival, they sought help from the first police officer they encountered, clearly expressing their fear of persecution due to their beliefs. Following this initial claim, they underwent vetting and received work permits, allowing them to work and file taxes in the U.S.
Their situation highlights a troubling trend in ICE arrests and deportations that have escalated under the Trump administration, which focused on tightening immigration restrictions and enforcing federal immigration laws. This has included increased scrutiny of asylum seekers.
Hooper noted that both Mehran and Amin were detained by ICE in December after they voluntarily turned themselves in for routine checks related to their asylum claims. Despite repeated inquiries from their attorney, the reasons for their detention remain undisclosed. Currently, both men are being held in a contract detention facility in Houston.
In response to inquiries from Houston Public Media, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that both individuals entered the U.S. illegally and were released under the Biden administration. Amin’s attorney confirmed that his client did enter the U.S. prior to seeking asylum but highlighted that the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy had been suspended by the Biden administration at that time.
According to DHS, an immigration judge had determined that Mehran was deportable in November 2025, just prior to his detention by ICE. A hearing was held in March regarding his status, where an immigration judge rendered a decision within ten minutes, ordering his deportation. Pastor Hooper expressed concern about the swiftness of the ruling, emphasizing the gravity of the situation for Mehran, stating, “Expulsion from this regime would mean death for him.”
While Mehran’s legal team is in the process of appealing the ruling, the clock is ticking on his deportation order, intensifying concerns about the dire consequences he would face should he be sent back to Iran.
