Eleven Iranian nationals, including a suspected former army sniper and an individual with admitted ties to Hezbollah, were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend.
The arrests, made across multiple states, highlight what officials say is a broader crackdown on individuals with ties to Iran and potential national security risks.
Among those detained is Mehran Makari Saheli, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who was convicted of firearm offenses in Minnesota and admitted to having ties to Hezbollah.
He had been ordered removed in 2022 but remained in the country illegally, according to Homeland Security.
ICE also arrested Ribvar Karimi, an alleged former sniper for the Iranian army found in Alabama with an Iranian military ID, and Yousef Mehridehno, labeled a known or suspected terrorist after US officials revoked his legal residency over alleged visa fraud.
Other arrests spanned Texas, Arizona, Mississippi, Colorado, California, and New York, involving individuals with histories of drug trafficking, firearms offenses, domestic violence, and prior removal orders.
One US citizen, Linet Vartaniann, was also arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot ICE agents while harboring an undocumented Iranian man.
All individuals are now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Homeland Security officials say the operation is part of President Trump’s directive to proactively remove threats before they escalate.
