ICE Arrests 11 Iranian Nationals as Homeland Security Monitors Potential Threats

Federal immigration agents have arrested 11 Iranian nationals across eight U.S. states over the past 48 hours, according to a recent report. 

The coordinated operation was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeting individuals suspected of ties to foreign military forces and possible national security threats.

One of the arrests took place near St. Paul, Minnesota, where authorities detained Mehran Makari Saheli, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

Other individuals taken into custody during the sweep included an Iranian army sniper identified as Ribvar Karimi, located in Alabama and a man flagged on a U.S. terror watchlist, Yousef Mehridehno, who now faces charges of visa fraud.

ICE officials revealed that five of the eleven Iranian nationals had prior criminal convictions in the United States. 

One U.S. citizen was also taken into custody for allegedly harboring one of the foreign nationals and threatening law enforcement, according to Trending Politics.

The enforcement action unfolded amid increasing tensions in the Middle East following President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities. 

Although no direct link has been established between the arrests and the military campaign, a recent Homeland Security bulletin advised that Iranian retaliation could take non-traditional forms, including the activation of sleeper cells within U.S. borders.

The operation came shortly after federal authorities circulated internal warnings to border agents, alerting them to monitor for signs of coordinated retaliation following the strikes. 

A memo highlighted the threat of potential infiltration by radicalized individuals and warned of lone actors returning to the U.S. with the intent to commit acts of terror.

The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed any current active plots but noted that violent extremists already inside the country could be emboldened if Iranian leadership publicly called for revenge. 

The arrests are being treated as precautionary measures amid a broader campaign to secure the homeland.

Several of the detained individuals are now undergoing deportation proceedings. 

While the arrests span multiple jurisdictions, they are part of a nationwide effort to prevent possible threats from escalating. 

ICE has not released further details on the remaining detainees due to ongoing investigations.

This latest enforcement push follows a broader initiative aimed at removing foreign nationals deemed security threats. 

Resist the Mainstream reported earlier that over 1,000 Iranian nationals were released into the U.S. under the previous administration—a figure often cited by critics who say lenient immigration and asylum policies have left the nation exposed.

At least one of the arrested individuals is believed to have entered the country under the Biden-era parole program, which has drawn scrutiny for its perceived loopholes, according to TP. 

As the geopolitical crisis intensifies, federal immigration authorities appear to be shifting toward a more aggressive posture.

The arrests highlight the growing concern over possible retaliatory actions by foreign actors. 

With the U.S. military bracing for additional conflict in the Middle East and officials keeping a close eye on potential threats at home, the situation remains fluid. 

Federal agencies continue to coordinate efforts aimed at deterring threats before they reach American soil.

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