Immigration and Customs Enforcement is launching an unprecedented operation to remove 6,000 Iranian nationals who have violated U.S. immigration law, with over 1,000 having criminal convictions and nearly 3,000 already under final deportation orders.
Key Takeaways
- ICE has identified approximately 6,000 Iranian nationals for potential removal who have violated their legal status in the U.S.
- Nearly 1,300 of these Iranians have criminal convictions, raising significant national security concerns.
- Almost 3,000 Iranians already face final deportation orders, while other cases remain in legal proceedings.
- During the Biden administration, Border Patrol apprehended roughly 1,500 Iranians entering illegally, with about half subsequently released into the country.
- ICE has recently intensified enforcement operations, arresting over 100 Iranian nationals as of June 26.
Operation Targets Thousands of Iranian Immigration Violators
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has identified approximately 6,000 Iranian nationals currently residing in the United States in violation of immigration laws. These individuals are now the focus of intensified enforcement operations. The targeted group primarily consists of people who initially entered the country legally but subsequently violated the terms of their entry by overstaying visas or otherwise falling out of lawful status. This large-scale enforcement action represents a significant shift toward stricter immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration.
Of particular concern are the nearly 1,300 Iranian nationals with criminal convictions who remain in the country despite being eligible for removal. An additional 2,970 individuals already have final orders of removal issued against them, meaning they have exhausted all legal options to remain in the United States. The remaining cases are at various stages in the removal proceedings process. This operation underscores the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, especially concerning individuals from countries with known terrorist activities.
Illegal Entry and Detention Status
Border Patrol records indicate approximately 1,500 Iranian nationals were apprehended after illegally crossing U.S. borders during the previous administration. In a concerning development, nearly half of these individuals were subsequently released into the interior of the country. This practice, common during the Biden administration, allowed potential security threats to establish themselves within American communities while awaiting immigration proceedings that could take years to complete.
ICE officials have confirmed that as of June 26, their recent enforcement actions have resulted in the arrest of over 100 Iranian nationals illegally present in the United States. Currently, 670 Iranian nationals are being held in ICE detention facilities pending removal. The agency is utilizing various monitoring technologies and increasing the frequency of targeted arrest operations for individuals under consideration for removal, demonstrating a renewed commitment to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
National Security Implications
The presence of thousands of Iranian nationals who have violated U.S. immigration law raises significant national security concerns. Iran’s government has repeatedly demonstrated hostility toward the United States and has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. Intelligence experts have long warned about the potential for foreign governments to exploit immigration vulnerabilities to place operatives within American borders. The criminal convictions among many of the targeted individuals further heighten these security considerations.
Some cases involve individuals who have been in the United States for decades without maintaining legal status. For example, ICE recently arrested Mandonna Kashanian in New Orleans, who entered the U.S. legally on a student visa in the 1970s but subsequently overstayed. Despite being granted a temporary stay of removal, she may still face deportation to a third country. This case illustrates how even long-term residents are not exempt from immigration enforcement when they have failed to maintain legal status over extended periods.
Enhanced Enforcement Measures
The current operation represents a sharp departure from the more relaxed enforcement policies of the previous administration. ICE is now employing a more aggressive approach to locating and apprehending individuals on their non-detained docket. This includes those released from detention facilities under Alternative to Detention (ATD) programs, which allow some foreign nationals to remain free while their removal processes are ongoing. These individuals are typically subject to monitoring through various technologies or scheduled check-ins.
For those Iranian nationals currently serving sentences in federal or state prisons, ICE has placed immigration detainers requesting notification before their release. This ensures that criminal aliens are transferred directly to immigration custody rather than being released into American communities. This coordinated approach between federal, state, and local law enforcement demonstrates the administration’s commitment to ensuring that those who violate both criminal and immigration laws face appropriate consequences.
