Yousof Azizi, an Iranian-American scholar and political commentator, says he spent three months in US immigration detention before requesting voluntary departure to Iran with his family. US authorities accused him of past involvement with Iran’s student Basij and questioned his immigration status, allegations he denies.
Disputed claims and detention
Azizi said agents arrested him outside his Maryland home in April and claimed he had been part of the student Basij while studying in Iran between 2007 and 2010. He says officials did not present evidence for that claim during detention or court proceedings. The FBI reportedly told the court he had no criminal record.
Authorities also argued that his student visa status had ended after he failed to re-enrol at Virginia Tech. Azizi said he had applied to change his status so he could study part-time. He described being transferred among detention facilities and said conditions were difficult.
He chose voluntary departure
Azizi believes the case was politically motivated because of his public criticism of US and Israeli policy toward Iran. That is his assessment, not a court finding. He says he left the United States on June 30 with his family and plans to continue his dissertation from Iran.
The Department of Homeland Security denied Israeli involvement in the deportation of Iranian nationals. The allegations and Azizi’s account remain contested. His case highlights the significant personal consequences of immigration proceedings, particularly when national-security claims are disputed.
