Five Iranians Detained Crossing US-Canada Border Amid Terror Concerns

Five Iranian nationals and two Uzbek individuals were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection near the U.S.-Canada border in Mooers Forks, New York, after being found in a minivan during a response to suspicious activity. All seven had previously attempted to enter the U.S. illegally and are now awaiting deportation, highlighting ongoing concerns over border security. The arrests have intensified fears about national security vulnerabilities along the northern border, particularly amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran and concerns about possible Iranian sleeper cells operating within the U.S. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik credited increased border enforcement efforts and the recent One Big Beautiful Bill for aiding in the arrests, criticizing the current administration's border policies. Experts and officials pointed to recent Iranian-related terrorist plots and the risk of covert operatives entering through porous borders, emphasizing that border security is critical to public safety. The situation underscores the growing challenges faced by law enforcement in rural border towns as they confront potential national security threats linked to immigration enforcement.