U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Tuesday the detention of five Iranian nationals attempting to cross illegally from Canada into New York.
The incident has intensified concerns about potential security risks linked to Iranian nationals entering the U.S.
On July 1, agents from the Champlain, New York, Border Patrol Station, part of the Swanton Sector, responded to suspicious activity near Mooers Forks, New York.
Authorities intercepted a minivan carrying five Iranian citizens along with two Uzbek nationals.
CBP confirmed all seven individuals have prior arrests related to illegal border crossings and remain in custody pending removal proceedings.
The Swanton Sector emphasized the critical link between border security and public safety, stating on Facebook, “Border security is national security and directly correlates to public safety. Agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders and enforcing immigration laws.”
Located near the Canadian border in rural Swanton, Vermont, the Champlain Station has seen increased activity as border security challenges persist.
These arrests highlight ongoing efforts to safeguard remote northern crossings.
The detentions come amid growing fears about Iranian sleeper cells potentially operating within the U.S.
Jonathan Gilliam, a former FBI special agent and member of a terrorism task force, warned Fox News that sleeper cells “could be hiding in plain sight.”
He noted the U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22 as a backdrop for heightened security vigilance.
Gilliam also criticized current border policies under the Biden administration, suggesting they may inadvertently undermine national security.
“They could even go to the border and say they [want to] seek asylum, and the Biden administration, instead of placing them into DHS or ICE custody for vetting, releases them,” he said, implying this could allow dangerous individuals to evade proper screening.
Iran’s covert activities and terror threats are not limited to the U.S.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 “Country Reports on Terrorism”, Iran continues to sponsor terrorist groups and supports malign operations targeting dissidents abroad and Western interests.
The report highlights the use of sleeper cells and proxy organizations by Iran to conduct espionage, assassination attempts and cyberattacks across continents.
It also warns that Iranian operatives exploit vulnerabilities in immigration and asylum systems to infiltrate Western nations, highlighting the need for stringent border security.
Canada and allied nations have also raised alarms about Iran’s growing intelligence footprint.
Last month, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched investigations into more than 115 suspected Iranian government or military officials who entered the country.
At least 20 individuals were deemed inadmissible, with three removed and one deported under Canada’s designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity, according to CP24.
In a rare public statement in 2022, Canada’s national intelligence agency, CSIS, confirmed it was investigating multiple “credible” death threats targeting Iranian dissidents residing in the country.
Authorities believe the threats originated from individuals tied to the Iranian regime, highlighting a broader pattern of state-sponsored intimidation efforts abroad, Reuters reported.
These developments emphasize a sustained threat from Iran’s covert operations in Western nations and reinforce the importance of rigorous border enforcement and intelligence sharing.
Additional reports cite convictions in the United Kingdom for individuals seeking intelligence for terrorist purposes and multiple arrests or expulsions of Iranian operatives across Europe.
Denmark notably recalled its ambassador from Tehran after uncovering an Iran-backed assassination plan targeting a dissident on Danish soil.
These developments emphasize a sustained threat from Iran’s covert operations in Western nations and reinforce the importance of rigorous border enforcement and intelligence sharing.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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