US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said four Iranian nationals had been arrested in Texas since the beginning of the month, adding that they were considered “foreigners of special interest.”
A CBP source told Fox News that an Iranian man in his 40s was detained Sunday morning in Eagle Pass, Texas, after crossing the southern border around 3 a.m.
The source added that the Iranian national handed himself over to border protection agents after making the illegal crossing.
The man, along with three other Iranian nationals are considered “foreigners of special interest” because they come from countries identified by the US government as having conditions that promote or harbor terrorism or potentially pose a national security threat to the US.
“Foreigners of special interest” also undergo additional checks and interrogations after being detained.
Last week, CBP agents detained two Lebanese nationals in Eagle Pass, who are also considered “foreigners of special interest.”
CBP has also detained an Egyptian man in his 40s. Separately, in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, officials have detained 19 Iranians and 17 Syrians since Monday.
Migrants cross the Rio Grande river from Mexico to the United States on Saturday, September 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. James Keivom
The concern comes amid security concerns and potential violence after Hamas-led terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,300 Israelis and injuring thousands more.
Lebanon borders Israel and is home to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which like Hamas, is designated a terrorist group by the State Department and is also funded by Iran.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters last week that Iran has “extensive disagreements” when it comes to Hamas over its support for the terrorist organization.
A migrant tries to pass under the concertina wire after he crossed the Rio Grande river from Mexico to the United States on Monday, September 25, 2023. James Keivom
However, the security council has seen no evidence that Iran was involved in planning, sourcing or training Hamas’ attacks last week.
The Department of Homeland Security’s threat assessment, published last month, noted that agents had found a growing number on the watch list and warned that “terrorists and criminals may exploit the high flows and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States.”
“Individuals with ties to terrorism are interested in using established travel routes and a permissive environment to facilitate access to the United States,” the assessment said.
Stephen Sorace and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
