130 Iranians arrested by ICE in just seven days: Report

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 130 Iranian nationals over the last week, according to sources familiar with the matter. The arrests come after the U.S. successfully executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a covert mission involving strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. 

“NEW: Per multiple federal sources, ICE has arrested 130 Iranian nationals across the U.S. in the last 7 days, and 670 Iranian nationals are currently in ICE detention, as the Trump administration significantly ramps up efforts to find & arrest Iranians due to security concerns,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin wrote on X. 

Officials told Melugin the arrests involved Iranian nationals already in the United States, adding that Customs and Border Protection only encountered 22 Iranians over the same period. 

According to the FBI, Iran is considered a threat from multiple angles, including cyber, foreign intelligence, and terrorism. The federal agency is “committed to identifying and disrupting all Iranian intelligence and military operations that threaten American citizens or our nation's security and critical infrastructure.”

“Working with our intelligence and law enforcement partners worldwide, the FBI has countered a diverse set of threats directed by the Iranian regime, including attempted terrorist attacks and kidnappings, espionage and foreign influence operations, cyber attacks, sanctions evasion, and illicit procurement of sensitive technology to support Iran’s military capability and nuclear program,” the FBI’s website states. 

“The FBI will continue to work diligently to thwart Iran’s violent agenda and use all available authorities to investigate criminal actions directed by the Iranian regime and its terrorist partners like Lebanese Hizballah, including any threats to current or former U.S. officials,” it added.