Federal agents raid a Los Angeles home harboring Iranian terror suspects, exposing an extensive human trafficking network with ties to Hezbollah and uncovering armed criminals living freely within American communities.
Key Takeaways
- ICE arrested 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the U.S., including individuals with ties to Hezbollah and suspected terrorists on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist.
- A major human trafficking hub in North Hills, Los Angeles, was dismantled after federal raids revealed it was repeatedly used to harbor illegal entrants linked to terrorism.
- Several of the arrested Iranians had dangerous criminal histories, including a former Iranian Army sniper and individuals possessing loaded firearms.
- A U.S. citizen was arrested for threatening to “shoot ICE officers in the head” while harboring an illegal alien.
- The Trump administration has intensified deportation efforts against Iranian nationals as part of a broader security strategy addressing potential sleeper cells.
Terror Watchlist Suspects Found in Los Angeles Smuggling Hub
In a coordinated strike against national security threats, Department of Homeland Security agents raided a residence in North Hills, Los Angeles, arresting nine individuals connected to an Iranian human trafficking network. Seven of those detained were Iranian nationals flagged on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist, highlighting the severe security implications of the Biden-era border crisis that President Trump’s administration is now addressing. The property had served as a central hub for a sophisticated smuggling operation trafficking individuals from adversarial regimes into American communities, with federal officials confirming multiple uses of the location for harboring illegal entrants with terrorism links.
“This location has been used repeatedly to harbor illegal entrants, including foreign nationals linked to terrorism and flagged on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist,” said CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham. “Intelligence indicates the smuggling network has trafficked individuals from adversarial regimes, including Iran, posing direct risks to U.S. national security.”
Nationwide Crackdown Reveals Armed Criminals and Terrorist Ties
The Los Angeles raid was part of a broader nationwide enforcement action spanning nine cities that resulted in the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals and one American citizen. Among those apprehended was Ribvar Karimi, a former Iranian Army sniper arrested in Alabama, and Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad, detained in Houston with a loaded pistol and a history of domestic violence. In Minnesota, authorities captured Mehran Makari Saheli, who maintained concerning connections to the terrorist organization Hezbollah. Each arrest reveals how dangerous individuals have been living freely within American communities after entering the country illegally.
“Under Secretary 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,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “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.”
The operation also led to the arrest of Linet Vartannivartanians, a U.S. citizen who allegedly threatened to “shoot ICE officers in the head” while harboring an illegal alien. This disturbing threat underscores the dangerous environment federal agents face when enforcing immigration laws. Elsewhere, officers apprehended Yousef Mehridehno, a former lawful permanent resident and suspected terrorist, in Mississippi, and Mehrdad Mehdipour in Colorado Springs, whose criminal history raised serious security concerns.
Trump Administration Takes Action Against Potential Sleeper Cells
President Trump’s administration has significantly increased deportation efforts targeting Iranian nationals following recent military actions against Iran. To date, federal agents have arrested 130 Iranians nationwide, including numerous individuals flagged as terror suspects. This aggressive enforcement approach directly addresses growing concerns about potential sleeper cells operating within American borders, a threat that festered under previous administrations’ lax border policies. The coordinated operation demonstrates a clear shift toward prioritizing national security in immigration enforcement.
DHS raided a home in Los Angeles connected to an Iranian trafficking ring, arresting seven Iranian nationals. Several of the individuals arrested are on the FBI Terror Watchlist. The sleeper cells are here and they are planning. Either arrest/deport or suffer the consequences. https://t.co/ugmvw9w9Dw
— PoliMomma – Parody of self 😏 free snark provided! (@PoliMomma) June 28, 2025
In San Francisco, agents arrested Bahman Alizadeh Asfestani, who had accumulated a history of drug-related crimes, while Mohammad Rafikian and Arkavan Babk Moirokorli, both with fraud-related convictions, were taken into custody in Buffalo and San Diego, respectively. These arrests highlight the compounding threat posed by individuals with both terrorism links and criminal histories now being systematically removed from American communities. The ongoing operations reflect the administration’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks that exploit immigration vulnerabilities to place dangerous individuals inside the United States.
