U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals amid heightened national security concerns following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The individuals were arrested across eight states, including sanctuary cities, with one of them flagged on a federal watchlist. Notably, Mehran Makari Sahel, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with ties to Hezbollah, was detained in St. Paul, Minnesota. Another detainee, Yousef Mehridehno, had lived illegally in the U.S. for eight years and was caught after lying on a visa application. While no active terror plots have been linked to these individuals, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Attorney General Pam Bondi have called for heightened vigilance as Iran retaliated by launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar.

Authorities confirmed that all 11 men face criminal charges beyond immigration violations, with several accused of grand larceny, drug, or firearm offenses. Ribvar Karimi, another arrestee, was discovered with an Iranian Army ID and reportedly served as a sniper before entering the U.S. legally on a K-1 visa. ICE officials cited the arrests as part of a broader effort to meet aggressive deportation goals under President Trump, including a quota of 3,000 daily arrests. In the past year, ICE has arrested 68 Iranians, 47 of whom had criminal convictions. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem activated the National Terrorism Advisory System and emphasized ongoing collaboration with local officials to prevent potential attacks and monitor possible radicalization among returnees from abroad.