US Arrests 16 Iranians Including Terror-Linked Individuals Across Multiple States

U.S. federal authorities have arrested at least 15 Iranian nationals across multiple states in recent days, following heightened national security concerns after the U.S. conducted strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Many of those detained have significant criminal histories, including convictions for violent offenses, drug charges, and sex crimes, with at least one admitting ties to Hezbollah and another identified as a former Iranian Army sniper. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE described the operation as a proactive effort to remove individuals considered security risks, emphasizing that arrests included both recent illegal entrants and those with longstanding deportation orders. One U.S. citizen was also arrested for threatening to kill ICE officers while harboring an Iranian national. Officials highlighted failures in previous immigration enforcement, with some individuals evading removal for years despite criminal convictions or suspected terrorist ties. The arrests have intensified debates over border security and immigration policy in the context of rising tensions with Iran.