Over the past week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 130 Iranian nationals, raising the total number in custody to 670. These arrests follow heightened tensions after recent U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, sparking fears of potential retaliatory threats.

Federal officials and national security analysts have raised concerns about the risk of sleeper cells or individual actors seeking revenge. These developments come amid a broader border crisis that has seen millions of illegal entries, which critics argue has weakened national security due to inadequate vetting procedures.

ICE confirmed that several of the recently detained Iranian nationals have prior criminal records, including charges related to drug trafficking, weapons violations, and domestic violence. The agency has intensified operations in response to the evolving threat landscape.

Among the notable arrests is Ribvar Karimi, a former sniper in the Iranian military. Karimi entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa meant for fiancé(e)s but failed to adjust his immigration status. He was apprehended in Locust, Alabama, while in possession of documents linking him to the Iranian army.

Another high-profile case involves Mehran Makari Sahel, who was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sahel is a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and admitted to ties with Hezbollah. His capture was part of a broader ICE operation targeting sanctuary cities across eight states.

According to DHS officials, the agency is working swiftly to identify and remove individuals with potential terrorist connections. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that the agency is acting preemptively under President Trump’s directive to protect the homeland before an incident occurs.

A recent Supreme Court ruling now allows deportations to third-party countries, which may expedite removals in cases where returning individuals directly to Iran is blocked due to strained diplomatic relations.

Despite a declared cease-fire with Iran by former President Trump, American intelligence and counterterrorism units remain on alert. The arrests reflect a wider national strategy to address emerging threats tied to international conflicts and domestic vulnerabilities.