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Customs and Border Protection is warning agents about possible terrorist “sleeper cells” in the US after more than 700 Iranian nationals were let into the US after crossing illegally under the Biden administration, according to a leaked memo obtained by The Post.
Iranian migrants are considered to be “special interest aliens” and are supposed to undergo additional vetting by the feds for possible terrorism ties.
Under the Biden administration, over 1,500 Iranian migrants were caught crossing the border illegally and nearly 50% of them were released into the US, according to Fox News.
Border agents are now being put on high alert of the possibility of Iranians using the border to carry out attacks on the US following the Trump administration’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott cited “Iran’s hatred for the United States and their desire to harm America and Americans,” in Saturday’s memo to border agents.
“Over the past four years, thousands of Iranian national have been documented entering the United States illegally and countless more were likely in the known and unknown got-a-ways,” Scott wrote.
“Though we have not received any specific credible threats to share with you all currently, the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran has never been higher,” he added.
Scott asked border agents “to remain hyper vigilant and continue to take appropriate precautions, while maintaining a heightened level of situational awareness both on and off-duty.”
The Trump administration carried out surprise strikes Saturday night on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” in an effort to cripple the Islamic Republic’s nuclear weapons development.
The alert comes after Iranian officials warned President Trump during last week’s G7 summit that they would use “sleeper cells” to launch attacks on American soil if the US chose to attack, two US officials told NBC News.
On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security issued a terrorism alert that warned officials to be on the lookout for Iranian-led attacks over the next three months by terror cells inspired to retaliate following Saturday night’s strike.
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland,” DHS said in a statement.
The FBI similarly warned the Iran has a history of targeting US interests, “and they are likely to increase their efforts in the near term,” the New York Times reported.
“I can tell you we are on high alert and everyone is looking at that very closely,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday at a House Appropriations Committee hearing.
Officials have also warned that both cyberattacks and antisemitic acts are likely to increase.
The NYPD has also been placed on high alert and Gov. Kathy Hochul has increased security at the MTA and Port Authority.
On Monday, Iran launched a missile attack at the US military base near Doha, Qatar — though the Iranians reportedly warned of the attack in advance and all the projectiles were shot down before reaching their targets.
English (US)