Thousands of Iranian nationals may face arrest in the U.S. as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ramps up efforts to remove foreign nationals who entered legally but violated their status. ICE has already detained hundreds and is now tracking nearly 6,000 more, including many with criminal records.
Key Facts:
- Roughly 6,000 Iranian nationals are on ICE’s non-detained docket for potential removal.
- Nearly 1,300 of those have criminal convictions, and 2,970 already have final removal orders.
- As of June 26, over 100 Iranians have been arrested in nationwide ICE operations.
- Approximately 1,500 Iranian nationals crossed the southern border illegally under the Biden administration, with half released into the interior.
- One recent arrest in New Orleans involved a woman who overstayed a student visa from the 1970s.
The Rest of The Story:
According to ICE data reported by journalist Ali Bradley, about 6,000 Iranian nationals are either already subject to deportation or are expected to be.
Many are not in ICE detention facilities but remain under supervision through programs like Alternatives to Detention (ATD), which use tools such as ankle monitors or smartphone tracking.
Bradley noted that nearly 1,300 of those on the non-detained docket have criminal records, and more than 2,900 already face final orders of removal.
“These individuals are identified as removable or will soon become removable,” she posted, citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources.
#EXCLUSIVE There are currently 5,840 Iranian nationals on ICE's non-detained docket and nearly 1,300 of them have criminal convictions–According to data I just obtained via DHS sources.
2,790 have final orders of removal—3,050 are pending final orders.
The vast majority…
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) June 26, 2025
A high-profile case in New Orleans highlights the renewed enforcement: 64-year-old Mandonna Kashanian, who entered the U.S. legally nearly 50 years ago on a student visa, was arrested by ICE.
Though she was granted a stay of removal previously, the law allows deportation to a third country if not returned to Iran directly.
🚨ICE New Orleans arrested Mandana Kashanian, an Iranian citizen. She entered the U.S. legally in 1978 but overstayed her visa. After multiple appeals, she failed to depart. Kashanian remains in ICE custody pending removal.
Follow the thread below for details:
🧵 pic.twitter.com/Tc9wIkTbyl— ICE New Orleans (@ERONewOrleans) June 26, 2025
Commentary:
America’s immigration laws are not suggestions—they are the rules that safeguard national security and sovereignty.
When nearly 6,000 foreign nationals, including hundreds with criminal records, remain in the country despite violating their legal status, it is a clear failure of enforcement.
These individuals were granted the privilege of legal entry, and in return, they disregarded the law.
The system has been too lax for too long.
When criminal aliens or those with removal orders remain freely within our borders, it sends the message that breaking the rules comes without consequence.
Immigration must prioritize the safety and interests of U.S. citizens—not cater to foreign nationals who defy the terms of their stay.
ICE’s renewed focus is long overdue.
The arrest of someone who overstayed a student visa from the 1970s is not an isolated case—it’s a glimpse into decades of neglect.
There are countless others who should have been deported long ago.
That they were not is a direct reflection of an administration that failed to act.
Coming to the United States is not a right—it is an earned privilege. And with privilege comes responsibility.
Those who abuse it should be removed without delay.
Detaining these individuals ensures they don’t disappear into the shadows and avoids the risk of further violations or harm to the public.
The Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border allowed over 1,500 Iranian nationals to cross illegally—with half reportedly released into the interior.
That’s not just poor policy; it’s a dangerous gamble.
It took years of chaos to prompt this crackdown.
This situation spells out why strong immigration enforcement is critical.
Alternatives to detention programs are not enough.
While ATDs may serve a role, too many aliens exploit the leniency.
Removal proceedings drag on for years, while the public is left to shoulder the consequences.
The Trump administration took immigration enforcement seriously, and we’re now seeing the fruits of that hard stance being revived.
Every sovereign nation has the right—and the duty—to remove those who defy its laws.
America is no different.
The Bottom Line:
Thousands of Iranian nationals may face removal after violating U.S. immigration laws, many with criminal records or standing deportation orders.
ICE is now taking steps to detain and deport these individuals—action that should have happened long ago.
It’s a step in the right direction, but a late one.
Immigration laws must be enforced, or they mean nothing.
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