U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said on Tuesday, June 24, that 11 Iranian nationals had been apprehended in the United States, including one man in Mississippi.
The announcement came days after President Donald Trump ordered the bombing of multiple Iranian nuclear development sites.
On June 21, Trump authorized the targeted bombings. Hours later, Trump warned the public that if the Iranian leadership did not seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis with Israel, he would authorize additional US strikes. A cease-fire agreement was announced two days later.
On June 22, ICE agents arrested Yousef Mehridehno in Gluckstadt, Madison County. Mehridehno was identified as an Iranian national and former lawful permanent resident.
According to officials, Mehridehno’s residency in the United States was terminated in October 2017 after the government determined that he “lied on his original visa application and committed potential marriage fraud.”
Mehridehno was designated as a “known or suspected terrorist” by authorities in February. Mehridehno is currently being held in ICE custody for removal proceedings, according to officials.
Mehridehno is now detained at the Madison County Detention Center.
“Under Secretary (Kristi) Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a press release.
“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.”
Other arrestees can be seen on the Homeland Security website.