Unmasking Threats: 15 Iranians Arrested Amidst Iran-US Tensions
Increased apprehensions of Iranian individuals with criminal backgrounds by ICE under Trump's security operation: Labeled as 'the most dangerous'.
In a concerning development, our website's David Spunt delves into recent arrests of Iranian nationals, escalating national security concerns. Joey Jones, our contributor, also addressed these concerns during 'The Faulkner Focus' and discussed the rising tide of antisemitism in the United States.
EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: At least 16 Iranian nationals were apprehended on Monday, following the 11 already announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday.
On Monday, 45-year-old Mohammad Hassanpoor was nabbed by the police in Baltimore and issued a "Third County Notice." Previously, he had been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon causing severe harm and was sentenced to nearly a year in prison. Additionally, he served roughly three months for domestic battery and two years for stalking.
Kaveh Abedi, 45, was captured in Chicago for breaching the Immigration and Nationality Act and had a 2001 conviction for cocaine possession.
Hospitals in Sanctuary Cities: A Potential Target for Iranian Terror Attacks
Arish Rustami and Abdolmohammad Raghibzadeh were also detained. Raghibzadeh has a prior sex offense conviction, and his deportation order was issued by an Arizona immigration judge since November 2005. He currently holds Iranian citizenship, as per ICE.
In 1999, Raghibzadeh faced charges of domestic violence, vandalism, and intimidation, resulting in 90 days in prison and five years of probation. He had two other arrests and subsequent jail terms for breaching his probation conditions.
In May 2006, Raghibzadeh was unable to obtain the necessary paperwork to return to Iran, leading to an "order of supervision" and subsequent release. However, in 2007, he was arrested again by sheriffs in Santa Ana, California, for violating his probation terms, which required him to spend the remainder of it at the California Chino Detention Center, according to ICE.
Sahand Yousefinasrabadi was apprehended on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas, following a targeted enforcement action. Yousefinasrabadi was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in September 2013 and was requested to leave the U.S. by an immigration judge in October 2013.
The Growing Iranian Threat: Insights from Former DHS Officials
The arrests follow concerns about Iranian sleeper cells in the United States after the strikes on nuclear sites in the Middle Eastern nation. While a ceasefire currently exists between Iran and Israel, DHS has noted the arrests made since Sunday.
"Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been aggressively identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists who have illegally entered this country, entered via the fraudulent parole programs or otherwise," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated regarding the initial 11 arrests. "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," McLaughlin added.
It is imperative to note that hospitals and other public spaces in sanctuary cities may be vulnerable to Iranian retaliation should such an attack occur, according to certain experts. Lora Ries from the Heritage Foundation and Andrew Arthur from the Center for Immigration Studies argue that sanctuary jurisdictions, with their policies limiting federal immigration enforcement, could be seen as "soft targets" for terrorism, particularly hospitals due to their public nature and potential for catastrophic impact. However, it should be emphasized that while the threat is genuine, there is no evidence of an imminent or specific threat from Iran to these locations.
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at our website Digital in Washington D.C. You can reach [email protected] for story tips, and follow him on Twitter @cameron_arcand.
References
- Heritage Foundation - Commentary on Iranian Threats to Sanctuary Cities
- Center for Immigration Studies - Insights on Iranian 'Gotaways'
In light of the recent arrests of Iranian nationals, concerns about war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice intersect as national security issues escalate. The apprehension of individuals with criminal records for offenses like assault, drug possession, domestic battery, stalking, and sex crimes, alongside questions about terrorism and Iranian sleeper cells, points to a complex and potentially dangerous situation.
