On July 1, agents from the Champlain, New York, Border Patrol Station, part of the Swanton Sector, were alerted to suspicious activity near Mooers Forks, New York, leading to the interception of a minivan carrying five Iranian citizens and two Uzbek nationals. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the detention of these individuals, all of whom have prior arrests related to illegal border crossings, and they remain in custody pending removal proceedings.
The incident occurred at a time of heightened vigilance, given the potential security risks linked to Iranian nationals entering the U.S. The Swanton Sector, located near the rural Canadian border in Swanton, Vermont, has witnessed increased activity as challenges to border security persist. In a statement on Facebook, the sector emphasized the critical link between border security and public safety, asserting, "Border security is national security and directly correlates to public safety. Agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders and enforcing immigration laws."
These arrests come amid growing fears about Iranian sleeper cells potentially operating within the U.S. Jonathan Gilliam, a former FBI special agent and member of a terrorism task force, warned Fox News that sleeper cells "could be hiding in plain sight." He noted the U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22 as a backdrop for heightened security vigilance. Gilliam also criticized current border policies under the Biden administration, suggesting they may inadvertently undermine national security by not adequately vetting individuals who claim asylum.
The U.S. Department of State's 2023 "Country Reports on Terrorism" states that Iran continues to sponsor terrorist groups, supporting malign operations targeting dissidents abroad and Western interests. The report details Iran's use of sleeper cells and proxy organizations to conduct espionage, assassination attempts, and cyberattacks across continents. It warns that Iranian operatives exploit vulnerabilities in immigration and asylum systems to infiltrate Western nations, emphasizing the need for stringent border security.
Canada and allied nations have raised alarms about Iran's growing intelligence footprint. Last month, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched investigations into suspected Iranian government or military officials who entered the country. At least 20 individuals were deemed inadmissible, with three removed and one deported under Canada's designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
In 2022, Canada’s national intelligence agency, CSIS, confirmed investigations into "credible" death threats against Iranian dissidents in the country, believed to be from individuals linked to the Iranian regime. This pattern of state-sponsored intimidation efforts abroad is part of a broader concern.
Additional reports from the United Kingdom and Europe highlight convictions and expulsions of Iranian operatives for intelligence gathering and terrorist activities. Denmark notably recalled its ambassador from Tehran after uncovering an Iran-backed assassination plan on Danish soil.
These incidents underscore the sustained threat from Iran’s covert operations in Western nations and reinforce the importance of rigorous border enforcement and intelligence sharing. The recent detentions at the New York-Canada border serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to safeguard remote northern crossings and the broader implications for national security.
