In recent operations, federal immigration officials have arrested 11 Iranian nationals, which included a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an individual listed on the U.S. terrorist watchlist. These arrests took place across eight states and nine cities, reflecting an escalation in immigration enforcement amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran following military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Among those detained was Ribvar Karmi, an ex-IRGC sniper, who entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa. He was found in Alabama with an Iranian military identification card and will remain in custody pending deportation proceedings. Another detainee, Mehran Makari Sahel, also with ties to Hezbollah, was arrested in Minnesota. Yousef Mehridehno, who had been living in the U.S. illegally for nearly eight years, was apprehended in Mississippi after being added to the terrorist watchlist.
These arrests come as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reporting a significant increase in daily arrests under the Trump administration. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the focus on apprehending individuals deemed "the worst of the worst."
Additionally, the operations led to the arrest of a U.S. citizen, Linet Vartaniann, who faces charges for allegedly threatening law enforcement during the arrest of an unlawfully present Iranian national she was accused of harboring.
In response to the heightened situation, DHS activated its National Terrorism Advisory System, warning of potential retaliatory actions that could target American infrastructure. The Trump administration has intensified efforts to monitor suspected Iranian agents and sympathizers in the wake of recent military actions.