Immigration authorities say they arrested 11 Iranians living in US illegally
'DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists,' says official
WASHINGTON
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Tuesday that it arrested 11 Iranian nationals living in the US illegally, including a man who allegedly served as a sniper in the Iranian military.
"DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through (former President Joe) Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
DHS identified those arrested as Ribvar Karimi, an alleged sniper who it said had an Islamic Republic of Iran Army identification card in his possession when he was taken into custody; Mehran Makari Saheli, an alleged Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member who allegedly admitted to having connections to Lebanese Hezbollah.
Seven of those arrested had previous criminal convictions ranging from drug crimes to forging an official seal, DHS said.
DHS said a woman identified as Linet Vartanian was also arrested for threatening to shoot law enforcement as they sought to detain Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand at her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Eidivand had a final order of removal.
