ICE arrested 130 Iranian nationals across the U.S. in the past week, with 670 now in detention, amid heightened security concerns following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Federal sources warn of possible sleeper cells or retaliatory threats. DHS officials, including Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, emphasize proactive efforts under Secretary Kristi Noem to arrest suspected terrorists and violent extremists.

Former ICE Director Jonathan Fahey criticized lax vetting during the Biden administration, pointing to nearly 2 million “gotaways” as a serious national security risk. Some of those arrested have criminal records or military ties. Notably, Ribvar Karimi, a former Iranian army sniper, was detained in Alabama on a K-1 visa, having violated visa terms. Another arrest involved Mehran Makari Sahel in Minnesota, a former IRGC member linked to Hezbollah. A recent Supreme Court ruling may allow deportation to third-party countries despite limited diplomatic relations, potentially affecting the fate of detained individuals. U.S. counterterrorism agencies remain on high alert.