(ProsperNews.net) – ICE Arrests 11 Iranian Nationals with Terror Ties and Criminal Records, Including Former IRGC Member Connected to Hezbollah
Key Takeaways
- ICE arrested 11 Iranian nationals across eight states in a 48-hour operation, including individuals with ties to the IRGC and Hezbollah
- Mehran Makari Saheli, a former IRGC member with admitted Hezbollah connections, was arrested in Minnesota despite being ordered removed in 2022
- Five of the arrested individuals had prior criminal convictions ranging from grand larceny to drug and firearm offenses
- The arrests came shortly after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, though officials claim there are no current credible threats of terrorist attacks
- One arrestee, Yousef Mehridehno, had been living illegally in the U.S. for nearly eight years despite being on the terrorist watchlist
Nationwide Sweep Nets Dangerous Iranian Nationals
In a major national security operation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 11 Iranian nationals with criminal records and terror ties during a 48-hour sweep across America. The operation, which began on June 22, 2025, targeted individuals with connections to terrorist organizations including Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The arrests spanned nine cities across eight states, highlighting the widespread presence of these potential threats within American communities.
The timing of these arrests is particularly significant, coming immediately after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. While Department of Homeland Security officials maintain there are no specific terror plots linked to these individuals, the presence of former military operatives and terrorist organization members living illegally within our borders raises serious questions about our immigration enforcement policies and national security vulnerabilities.
IRGC and Hezbollah Connections Uncovered
Among the most alarming arrests was that of Mehran Makari Saheli in St. Paul, Minnesota. Saheli, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), openly admitted connections to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks against American interests. Despite being ordered removed from the United States in 2022, Saheli remained in the country illegally for years, accumulating convictions for fraudulent immigration documents and illegal firearm possession.
The fact that a former member of Iran’s elite military force with connections to a designated terrorist organization could remain in the United States for years after being ordered deported represents a catastrophic failure of our immigration enforcement system. This case exemplifies how our porous borders and inconsistent enforcement create opportunities for potentially dangerous foreign nationals to establish themselves within American communities.
Terrorist Watchlist Failures Exposed
Another disturbing case involved Yousef Mehridehno, who was arrested in Mississippi after living illegally in the United States for nearly eight years. Mehridehno, who had been added to the U.S. terrorist watchlist in February 2025, had originally entered the country by lying on his visa application. The fact that someone on our terrorist watchlist could remain undetected for years raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our national security apparatus.
In Alabama, authorities arrested Ribvar Karimi, identified as a former Iranian Army sniper who served from 2018 to 2021. Karimi had entered the United States on a K-1 fiancé visa, and was found in possession of his Iranian military identification card at the time of his arrest. This case highlights how foreign military personnel can exploit legitimate visa pathways to gain entry to the United States, potentially posing security risks.
Criminal Histories Compound National Security Concerns
Beyond their ties to terrorist organizations and foreign militaries, five of the eleven Iranian nationals arrested had prior criminal convictions in the United States. These convictions included serious offenses such as grand larceny, drug possession, and firearm violations. These individuals not only violated immigration laws but also engaged in criminal activity while residing illegally within American communities.
“These individuals represent a threat to public safety due to their criminal records and potential extremist ties,” stated a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson following the arrests. This operation follows a concerning trend, as ICE reported arresting 68 Iranian nationals in the previous fiscal year, with 47 of those individuals having criminal convictions.
National Security Implications
The arrests come at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. While officials have stated there are no credible, imminent threats to the U.S. homeland, the presence of individuals with ties to the Iranian military and terrorist organizations raises legitimate concerns about potential sleeper cells or lone-wolf actors within our borders.
The operation reflects an intensified enforcement effort amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Though officials have clarified that no direct links to active terror plots were established during these arrests, the backgrounds of these individuals suggest they could potentially be activated or radicalized during periods of international conflict. The fact that these arrests required a special operation rather than occurring through routine immigration enforcement highlights systemic weaknesses in our national security infrastructure.
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