US Veteran Adopted Iranian Orphan, Now Faces Deportation

Trump administration seeks to deport woman adopted by American war veteran in the 1970s.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A woman who was adopted as a young child by a U.S. war veteran, who found her in an Iranian orphanage in the 1970s and raised her as a Christian, is now facing deportation by the Trump administration despite having lived in the United States for decades.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal and humanitarian issues surrounding immigration and adoption, especially for individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children by adoptive parents. It raises questions about the rights of adopted immigrants and the government's approach to deportation in such cases.

The details

The woman, whose name has not been released, was adopted by the U.S. veteran in the 1970s after he found her in an Iranian orphanage. She was raised as a Christian in the United States, but never obtained U.S. citizenship. Now in her 40s, she is facing deportation by the Trump administration, which is seeking to remove her despite her long history in the country and the fact that she was brought here as a child by her adoptive American parent.

  • The woman was adopted by the U.S. veteran in the 1970s.
  • She has lived in the United States for decades.

The players

U.S. Veteran

An American war veteran who adopted the woman from an Iranian orphanage in the 1970s and raised her in the United States.

Trump Administration

The current U.S. presidential administration, which is seeking to deport the woman despite her long history in the country and her adoption by an American citizen.

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What’s next

The woman's case is currently working its way through the legal system, with her lawyers fighting the deportation order from the Trump administration.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for more compassionate and nuanced approaches to immigration policy, particularly when it comes to individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children through no fault of their own.