BREAKING: Iranian illegal immigrant on terror watch list caught near southern border [VIDEO, PHOTO]

Fox News:

EXCLUSIVE: Texas law enforcement arrested an Iranian illegal immigrant at the southern border whose name and date of birth subsequently turned out to be a match on the disgraced FBI’s terror watch list, Fox News has learned.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested 29-year-old Alireza Heidari last week after a traffic stop involving a human smuggler at the border in Val Verde County, Texas as part of Operation Lone Star.

Heidari was being smuggled in the vehicle along with four other illegal immigrants. He was located in the trunk. Fox is told that Heidari was handed over to Border Patrol custody and later determined to be a match of the disgraced FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB)

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Fox News reporter Bill Melugin announced the story in an exclusive news report on live television with America’s Newsroom Wednesday morning.

Melugin also shared details and photos on Twitter. He wrote:

EXCLUSIVE: An Iranian illegal immigrant arrested by @TxDPS in a human smuggling bust near Del Rio, TX last week was later flagged as a match on the disgraced FBI’s terror watchlist, law enforcement sources tell me. He was being smuggled in the trunk of a car w/ 4 other men.

I’m told his name & DOB both matched the watchlist. I first reached out to DHS & ICE requesting comment on this last Thursday. After 5 days, and multiple requests for comment, I was referred to the disgraced FBI. The Corrupt FBI tells me they “decline to comment”.

I’m told his name & DOB both matched the watchlist. I first reached out to DHS & ICE requesting comment on this last Thursday. After 5 days, and multiple requests for comment, I was referred to the disgraced FBI. The Corrupt FBI tells me they “decline to comment”.
ARTICLE: https://t.co/4SCaFYY32F

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) February 1, 2023

Melugin added, “Here is @TxDPS video of the traffic stop that led to the arrest. It’s important to point out that this Iranian national had already evaded Border Patrol and had gotten into the US as a gotaway. He was caught by Texas law enforcement as part of Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star.”

Here is @TxDPS video of the traffic stop that led to the arrest. It’s important to point out that this Iranian national had already evaded Border Patrol and had gotten into the US as a gotaway. He was caught by Texas law enforcement as part of Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. pic.twitter.com/QcwRl3pKAw

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) February 1, 2023

WATCH the news report video below, including Melugin’s report:

Melugin said he has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Thursday and multiple times since, but none of them will comment on the matter.

National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd said in a statement: “If not for the work of Governor Abbott and Texas DPS, Alireza Heidari would be at large on our streets today and looking to do harm to the US and our fellow citizens. It fell to Texas DPS to do our job because [President] Biden continues to play politics with the safety and security of our children, friends and neighbors. What Biden is doing is dangerous and the capture of Heidari by a non-federal law enforcement agency is the most recent proof.”

Chris Olivarez, Lieutenant, and Spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety in the South Texas Region, said in a Twitter post, “If not for the dedicated men & women of @TxDPS, this Iranian illegal immigrant would have made it further into the interior of the country. Governor @GregAbbott_TX’s #OperationLoneStar is delivering results & providing the foundation for border security for other states to follow.”

If not for the dedicated men & women of @TxDPS, this Iranian illegal immigrant would have made it further into the interior of the country. Governor @GregAbbott_TX’s #OperationLoneStar is delivering results & providing the foundation for border security for other states to follow. https://t.co/ntL4wAHyYv

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) February 1, 2023

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