Federal immigration agents have detained an Iranian man with military sniper training who was living in the U.S. on an expired visa. Ribvar Karimi, who served four years in Iran’s elite army unit, was arrested in Locust, Alabama as part of a broader operation targeting individuals with potential national security risks.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran following recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. While authorities haven’t linked Karimi to active terror plots, his background raised immediate concerns. He entered the country on a K-1 fiancé visa during the Biden administration but failed to maintain legal status.
“Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, we’re actively identifying and removing high-risk individuals who entered illegally,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. The operation netted 11 Iranians total, including another former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Minnesota.
The arrests follow reports of Iranian nationals attempting to enter Florida by boat, though officials haven’t confirmed any connection to current events. A recent DHS bulletin warned of potential retaliatory attacks by Iranian operatives or sympathizers on U.S. soil.
