It seems a week doesn’t pass without another stark reminder of why President Trump’s no-nonsense border and immigration policies are not only sensible—they are essential to our national security. Over the weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended eleven Iranian nationals illegally residing within our borders, one of whom has admitted ties to Hezbollah, a terrorist group backed and funded by the Iranian regime itself. Another detainee is a former Iranian army sniper, offering a chilling glimpse of the dangerous individuals slipping through the cracks of our immigration system.
Let’s make no mistake: these arrests aren’t isolated incidents or trivial infractions. Among those apprehended, five already possess criminal convictions—ranging from grand larceny to drug and firearm offenses. DHS officials have described these Iranian nationals plainly: “a threat to public safety.” This is precisely why President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement is not mere political rhetoric but a life-and-death necessity for all Americans.
Just consider the case of Ribvar Karimi, a former sniper for the Iranian Army. Karimi entered the United States on a K-1 visa—intended for foreign nationals engaged to American citizens—but he blatantly ignored U.S. immigration law by failing to adjust his status. Now, after living illegally in Locust, Alabama, Karimi faces deportation proceedings, but only after being allowed to reside freely within our borders for far too long. Or look at Mehran Makari Saheli, a former member of Iran’s sinister Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. DHS confirms Saheli has openly admitted connections to Hezbollah. He was living comfortably near St. Paul, Minnesota, before ICE finally caught up with him.
Most disturbing of all, we have individuals like Yousef Mehridehno, arrested in Mississippi and listed by DHS as a “known or suspected terrorist.” Mehridehno lied on his original visa application, was involved in potential marriage fraud, and yet remained in our communities for years, placing American lives at risk. In Texas, ICE apprehended Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad, an illegal immigrant from Iran who had been arrested previously for assaulting a family member, yet evaded removal until recently.
The latest ICE arrests occurred during growing tensions in the Middle East after Israel and Iran traded aerial attacks for more than a week.
The United States targeted and destroyed three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend and Iran responded by launching missiles, most of which were intercepted by the United States, toward a U.S. military base in Qatar. Israel and Iran have since agreed to a cease-fire.
This is not simply about enforcing immigration law, though that alone should be reason enough. It’s about protecting our homeland from the very real threat of terrorism and violent extremism. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem underscored this commitment, vowing to aggressively hunt down Iranian terrorist cells operating covertly within our borders. Officials have been clear about their strategy, with DHS spokesman McLaughlin emphasizing, “We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland.”
Yet, despite the clear and present danger these individuals pose, radical left-wing activists continue their reckless crusade against immigration enforcement agencies like ICE. Consider Linet Vartaniann, an American citizen arrested in Tempe, Arizona, for harboring Iranian illegal immigrant Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand. Vartaniann openly threatened to “shoot ICE officers in the head,” according to authorities. This extreme hatred for American law enforcement endangers the brave men and women tirelessly working to secure our homeland.
President Trump’s America First immigration enforcement is not optional—it’s imperative. His administration’s decisive actions stand in stark contrast to the weakness and incompetence America endured under Biden and the Democrats. Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant, proactive, and unapologetic in defending our borders and our citizens. The recent arrests of these Iranian nationals remind us that our enemies abroad will exploit any weakness they perceive in our immigration system. America cannot afford to return to the naive policies of the past. Our very safety, sovereignty, and liberty depend on it.
