Latest news with #JehJohnson
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE arrests 100+ Iranian nationals across US amid sleeper cell concerns
Print Close By Cameron Arcand, Bill Melugin, Jasmine Baehr Published June 26, 2025 EXCLUSIVE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 130 Iranian nationals throughout the United States in the last week, and 670 Iranian nationals are in ICE detention, as the Trump administration continues to increase arrests of Iranian nationals in the country illegally amid security concerns. Multiple federal sources confirmed the numbers, as administration officials and national security experts have warned about the possible risk of sleeper cells being activated, as well as those who may be inspired to retaliate domestically after the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program sites. "The presence in this country of undocumented migrants or Iranian nationals who have links to Hezbollah, IRGC, is, in my judgment, a domestic law enforcement concern of the highest magnitude," former Obama-era Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said on "Fox & Friends." OBAMA'S FORMER DHS SECRETARY SOUNDS ALARM ON IRANIAN SLEEPER CELLS, CALLS IT CONCERN OF 'HIGHEST MAGNITUDE' The border crisis under the Biden administration, which resulted in millions of people entering the country illegally, also underscored the concerns. "We don't know who they are, where they came from, why they're here," border czar Tom Homan said last week. "This is the biggest national security vulnerability we've ever seen." Meanwhile, former acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey said it "definitely" made things worse. MORE IRANIANS WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES ARRESTED BY ICE IN TRUMP'S SECURITY SWEEP: 'WORST OF THE WORST' "I think one thing that's really concerning about that: One, they weren't doing any really meaningful vetting in the last administration," Fahey said. "The second part of it is, you know, we have probably 2 million known gotaways come through the last administration, and the people that went through the non-ports of entry, we knew they went through but nobody caught them, so we have no idea who went through," he continued. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE ICE sources confirm that some of those arrested have criminal histories, including charges related to drugs, weapons and domestic violence. HOSPITALS IN SANCTUARY CITIES COULD BE MOST VULNERABLE TO IRAN TERROR ATTACKS, WARNS EXPERT At least one had served as a sniper in the Iranian military within the last four years. During the Biden administration alone, roughly half of the 1,500 Iranian nationals released into the U.S. were released into the interior. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A recent Supreme Court ruling allowing deportations to third-party countries — even where diplomatic relations are limited — could lead to detainees being sent to nations other than Iran. This ruling was triggered by a flight that headed toward South Sudan with illegal immigrants who had serious criminal convictions, but it was thwarted by a federal judge in Boston, and the legal debate is still ongoing. Print Close URL
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE arrests dozens of Iranian nationals across US amid sleeper cell concerns
EXCLUSIVE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 130 Iranian nationals throughout the United States in the last week, and 670 Iranian nationals are in ICE detention, as the Trump administration continues to increase arrests of Iranian nationals in the country illegally amid security concerns. Multiple federal sources confirmed the numbers, as administration officials and national security experts have warned about the possible risk of sleeper cells being activated, as well as those who may be inspired to retaliate domestically after the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program sites. "The presence in this country of undocumented migrants or Iranian nationals who have links to Hezbollah, IRGC, is, in my judgment, a domestic law enforcement concern of the highest magnitude," former Obama-era Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said on "Fox & Friends." The border crisis under the Biden administration, which resulted in millions of people entering the country illegally, also underscored the concerns. "We don't know who they are, where they came from, why they're here," border czar Tom Homan said last week. "This is the biggest national security vulnerability we've ever seen." Meanwhile, former acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey said it "definitely" made things worse. "I think one thing that's really concerning about that: One, they weren't doing any really meaningful vetting in the last administration," Fahey said. "The second part of it is, you know, we have probably 2 million known gotaways come through the last administration, and the people that went through the non-ports of entry, we knew they went through but nobody caught them, so we have no idea who went through," he continued. ICE sources confirm that some of those arrested have criminal histories, including charges related to drugs, weapons and domestic violence. At least one had served as a sniper in the Iranian military within the last four years. During the Biden administration alone, roughly half of the 1,500 Iranian nationals released into the U.S. were released into the interior. A recent Supreme Court ruling allowing deportations to third-party countries — even where diplomatic relations are limited — could lead to detainees being sent to nations other than Iran. This ruling was triggered by a flight that headed toward South Sudan with illegal immigrants who had serious criminal convictions, but it was thwarted by a federal judge in Boston, and the legal debate is still ongoing.
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Obama's former DHS secretary sounds alarm on Iranian sleeper cells, calls it concern of 'highest magnitude'
Americans are being urged to remain vigilant following the U.S. bombing of nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend and a series of arrests involving Iranian nationals inside the United States. The former Homeland Security Secretary under President Barack Obama is warning that the threat of terror sleeper cells on American soil is a major concern for law enforcement. "The presence in this country of undocumented migrants or Iranian nationals who have links to Hezbollah, IRGC, is, in my judgment, a domestic law enforcement concern of the highest magnitude," said former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson during an interview on "Fox & Friends," Wednesday. Following the strikes, the Department of Homeland Security released a memo warning of a "heightened threat environment across the United States" due to the involvement of the U.S. in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Iranian state television has also issued threats, stating that all American citizens or military personnel in the region became legitimate targets. Earlier this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrests of over a dozen Iranian undocumented nationals living in the U.S. Some of those arrested were accused of violent crimes such as domestic assault, drug offenses, and weapons possession. One individual had also served as a sniper in the Iranian army as recently as four years ago. Johnson believes the threat may be larger than the recent arrests suggest and that more migrants may be seized in connection to Iran. "That's not necessarily all of them," he said. "My educated speculation is that law enforcement has been tracking these individuals for a while in this country to follow leads, to see who they are in contact with." Other officials have voiced similar concerns, with many linking the increased threat of sleeper cells to the Biden administration's more lenient border policies. Border czar Tom Homan told FOX Business that nearly 2,000 migrants slipped past law enforcement daily under the previous White House. "We don't know who they are, where they came from, why they're here, but they got away," said Homan on Tuesday, going on to call it the "biggest national security vulnerability" the country has seen. Besides Iranian attacks, Johnson noted that those with extremist ties could act independently in response to the growing tensions in the Middle East. "Sleepers don't necessarily follow the direction from their sponsors," he said. "Somebody who's here in the United States who has links to the IRGC, to Hezbollah, may decide to take matters into their own hands." The FBI has shifted some of its resources to boost cybersecurity and expand counterterrorism initiatives in response to the threat. Johnson emphasized that Americans should not panic and continue to live their lives as normal. Instead, he urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. "'If you see something, say something' is still a valid public safety tool," he said. "It does make a difference."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘His legacy of courage and loyalty will live on': Most decorated K-9 in US history dies
WASHINGTON () — Hurricane, the most decorated K-9 in U.S. history, has died, the White House announced on Wednesday. 'Hurricane was a true American hero,' the White House said in a on X. 'He bravely defended the White House and spent retirement helping other working dogs.' DC animal hospital offers extended payment options, waives exam fees for federal workers who have lost jobs joined the USSS Emergency Response Team Tactical Canine Unit in November 2012 and retired after four years of service. Hurricane most notably helped to take down an intruder who jumped over the White House fence in 2014. His list of awards and accolades includes the USSS Award for Merit, the DHS Award for Valor, the PDSA Order of Merit, the Secretary's Award for Valor by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and AMC Top Dog in 2016 and more. Hurricane is also the first dog in history to receive the Animal's in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal in 2022. This achievement of his was documented in the Guinness Book of World Records. After his courageous efforts in service, a nonprofit was created after him. 'Jimbo has finally found peace': University of Maryland police mourns K-9's passing from cancer gives subsidized veterinary care to military and retired law enforcement dogs 'so they can live a long and healthy life' and financially unburden their handlers. 'His legacy of courage and loyalty will live on,' the White House stated. 'Rest easy, Hurricane.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
