In a significant enforcement move, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have conducted a series of coordinated operations across the United States, arresting 11 Iranian nationals in just 48 hours. This operation marks the latest effort by the federal government to clamp down on illegal immigration and address national security concerns. The sweep covered nine major cities in eight different states and involved individuals who had been on law enforcement’s radar for various reasons.
One of the principal arrests included Mehran Makari Saheli, an Iranian national apprehended at his residence near St. Paul, Minnesota. ICE officials have identified Saheli as a former operative of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an influential faction of Iran’s armed forces notorious for advancing Iran’s military and non-conventional agenda globally. According to official reports, Saheli also had established ties with Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and backed by Iran. Such affiliations have raised serious concerns about the potential risks posed by individuals like Saheli residing within the U.S.
Additionally, out of the 11 detained, five had previous criminal convictions in the U.S., varying from grand larceny, drug possession, to firearm offenses, evidencing a concerning pattern of criminal activity. Notable among the detainees is Yousef Mehridehno, who had been residing illegally in the U.S. for nearly eight years. Mehridehno was captured in central Mississippi near Jackson, just a few months after being placed on the U.S. known or suspected terrorist list. His arrest came as he had lied on his visa application, a revelation that came to light during routine checks by federal agents.
Operationally, the arrests do not directly connect to any particular plots against national security, stated the Department of Homeland Security. However, they occurred within a context of heightened vigilance due to an exacerbated security environment, as noted after recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Nonetheless, the proactive captures underline the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to preemptively secure the nation against potential threats, even if no immediate danger is apparent.
The operation further extended to individuals like Ribvar Karmi, apprehended in northern Alabama. Karmi notoriously served as a sniper in the Iranian Army from 2018 to 2021 and had entered the U.S. under a K-1 visa, which is typically granted to fiancés of U.S. citizens, in October 2024. His capture was significant due to the discovery of an Iranian Army identification card, bolstering ICE’s suspicions regarding his background and intentions within the country.
Other significant arrests included Mahmoud Shafiei and Mehrdad Mehdipour, who were cohabiting in Colorado Springs and both of whom had existing orders of removal against them. Shafiei, in particular, had a troubling record entailing state and federal convictions for drug offenses with additional arrests linked to assault and child abuse.
In a related but separate incident, ICE also arrested U.S. citizen Linet Vartanian for allegedly threatening to shoot federal agents and for harboring an illegal alien. During an enforcement operation at her residence, Vartanian reportedly threatened to “shoot officers in the head” if they attempted to enter her property, highlighting the challenges and dangers faced by ICE agents during such operations.
These arrests are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to aggressively pursue illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal or questionable backgrounds. The operation underscores a significant uptick in daily arrest rates from 660 in President Trump’s early days in office to about 1,200 in June, with a goal of reaching 3,000 arrests per day, as stated by the White House.
These stringent operations follow a year where ICE arrested about 113,000 individuals, with a considerable number coming from Mexico or Central America. However, figures from the last fiscal year indicate that 68 Iranian nationals were detained, nearly half of them with criminal convictions, reflecting a focused approach on individuals from geopolitically sensitive regions like Iran.
Amidst these escalating enforcement activities, the Department of Homeland Security activated its National Terrorism Advisory System shortly after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructures, keeping a vigilant eye on potential retaliatory threats, including those from homegrown extremists inspired by external calls to violence.
As these developments unfold, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has expressed the ongoing efforts to stay ahead of potential threats by collaborating with local authorities to identify and mitigate risks effectively. Meanwhile, despite the ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel, U.S. officials remain cautious, continually adapting to the fluid geopolitical tensions and internal security dynamics.
This comprehensive crackdown on illegal immigration and potential security threats underscores a robust federal response aimed at safeguarding national security while addressing illegal activities that could undermine public safety and national integrity.
