(LibertySociety.com) – A recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report shows that Border Patrol agents apprehended 124 Iranian nationals illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the month leading up to the presidential election—a significant increase of over 150 percent from the same time last year. According to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) source, this rise in Iranian nationals and other “Special Interest Aliens” (SIA) entering the country signals a troubling trend. Many SIAs are considered potential security risks due to travel patterns or connections that might pose a national threat.
The increase in Iranian SIAs has raised particular concern, especially given documented Iranian threats against former President Donald Trump. Despite these threats, sources say vetting procedures for Iranian migrants remain largely unchanged. Approximately 90 percent of Iranian nationals who cross the border and claim asylum are subsequently released within the U.S., allowing them to travel freely on domestic flights.
According to Associated Press reports, U.S. intelligence officials recently briefed Trump’s campaign on persistent Iranian threats, reiterating concerns tied to past attempts rather than new or emerging plots. Since the January 2020 airstrike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, tensions with Iran have remained high. The U.S. Department of Defense has attributed the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers to Soleimani, underscoring the dangers posed by specific hostile groups.
A CBP source indicated that while many of these Iranian migrants claim they are escaping a repressive regime, officials fear that genuine security threats could be hiding among those with legitimate asylum claims. “There is only so long we can hold them if there’s no clear evidence they’re a threat,” the source said. “Our concern is that those who are a real danger are using this group to blend in.”
DHS considers Iranian nationals as Special Interest Aliens due to concerns that their travel patterns might align with known terrorist networks. A DHS fact sheet from 2019 explains that while not all SIAs are terrorists, they often travel in ways that raise red flags. The term indicates that individuals have travel patterns or origins that suggest further screening is necessary. This process aims to ensure that those who enter the U.S. do not pose a security risk, although it does not imply specific evidence of wrongdoing.
With no signs of the trend slowing, Border Patrol and intelligence officials remain focused on managing this influx while balancing national security and immigration protocols.
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