A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member with connections to Hezbollah was among 15 Iranian criminals and suspected terrorists just arrested in a nationwide ICE operation that exposes the Biden administration’s reckless disregard for America’s national security.
At a Glance
- ICE arrested 15 Iranian nationals across eight states, including suspected terrorists, a sniper, and convicted felons.
- Mehran Makari Sahel, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member with Hezbollah ties, was apprehended near St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Yousef Mehridehno, an individual on the terrorist watchlist, was arrested after living illegally in the U.S. for eight years.
- DHS data shows the Biden administration released nearly half of all Iranian nationals who crossed the border illegally.
- Border agents were previously warned of potential Iranian “sleeper cells” following U.S. strikes on Iran.
Terrorists and Criminals in America’s Backyard
A recent nationwide operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to the arrest of 15 Iranian nationals, including individuals with suspected terrorism ties and extensive criminal records. The arrests highlight the severe national security risks posed by the previous administration’s lax border policies.
According to a report from Fox News, the roundup included Mehran Makari Sahel, a former IRGC member with Hezbollah connections who was arrested near St. Paul, Minnesota. Also apprehended was Yousef Mehridehno, who was on the terrorist watchlist and had been living illegally in San Antonio for eight years. Another arrest, Ribvar Karmi, was found in Alabama with an Iranian army ID identifying him as a military-trained sniper.
A Rogues’ Gallery of Violent Felons
Beyond the national security threats, the rap sheets of those arrested reveal a host of dangerous criminals who were allowed to live in American communities. Sahand Yousefinasrabadi, arrested in Texas, has a 2013 conviction for the aggravated sexual assault of a child. Mohammad Hassanpoor, arrested in Baltimore, had prior convictions for assault, battery, and stalking, while Kaveh Abedi was picked up in Chicago with a 2001 conviction for selling cocaine.
These individuals are designated “special interest aliens” due to the national security risk posed by their country of origin, yet they were able to enter and remain in the U.S. for years.
Biden’s Reckless “Welcome Mat” Policy
The truly infuriating context for these arrests is the policy that enabled these individuals to be here in the first place. According to DHS data cited by the New York Post, of the approximately 1,500 Iranian nationals who entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, 729 were released into the country.
This policy was enacted despite warnings from officials like former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, who cautioned agents after recent U.S.-Iran conflicts that “the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran, has never been higher.”
The current DHS, under the Trump administration, has made it clear that a new approach is in place. “We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin stated. “We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland.” This operation is a critical step in addressing the dangers created by four years of open-border ideology, but every American should be asking how many more threats remain at large.
