ICE arrests 11 Iranians in immigration raids
Eleven Iranians were arrested by ICE in the U.S. for immigration violations and links to terrorist groups; one confessed to ties to Hezbollah.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 11 Iranian nationals during operations carried out over a 48-hour period, spanning eight states and nine cities across the country. The arrests, part of an intensified immigration crackdown, included individuals with criminal records, fraudulent visas, and even links to organizations designated by the U.S. as terrorists.
Links to the IRGC and Hezbollah
Among those detained is Mehran Makari Saheli, arrested in Minnesota. According to ICE, he is a former member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has admitted connections to Hezbollah, an organization classified as a terrorist organization by the US government.
Additionally, Ribvar Karmi, arrested in Alabama, carried Iranian military identification and is believed to have been an IRGC sniper between 2018 and 2021. He entered the U.S. on a K-1 (engaged to be married) visa in October 2024.
Arrests with criminal records
Five of the 11 Iranians had prior criminal convictions for offenses including drug and weapons possession, and theft. Another detainee, Yousef Mehridehno, lived illegally in the U.S. for nearly eight years and was added to the terrorist watch list in February. He was captured in Mississippi.
Terrorist threat?
Although the detainees have not been linked to a specific terrorist plot, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned that the country is on high alert following the recent US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. However, officials clarified that there are no credible threats underway within the US.
The National Terrorism Advisory System was activated over the weekend in anticipation of possible physical or cyber retaliation from Iran, following a string of attacks between that country and Israel.
The Trump administration has intensified its arrest policy. In the first 100 days of his administration, the daily average of arrests was 660; by June, it had already risen to 1,200. The goal, according to the White House, is to reach 3,000 arrests per day.
According to government figures, ICE arrested 68 Iranians last fiscal year, 47 of them with criminal records. In total, 113,000 arrests, mostly Mexican and Central American citizens.
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