The escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly following recent U.S. airstrikes, have reignited debates about national security.
While much of the focus remains on Iran’s military capabilities – its ballistic missiles, drones, and proxy militias – the greatest threat to American safety may not come from overseas but from within our borders.
The unprecedented surge of Iranians crossing illegally into the United States through our porous southern border under the Biden administration represents a clear and present danger. We have no way of knowing whether these individuals are garden variety migrants or sleeper agents poised to execute a catastrophic attack on the scale of 9/11.
This vulnerability, exacerbated by decades of lax border policies, validates the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to secure our borders and deport potentially dangerous foreigners. It also underscores warnings from law enforcement experts like border czar Tom Homan, who have long argued that our neglected southern border is a national security crisis waiting to explode.
Since the Biden administration took office in January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported a staggering increase in encounters with Iranians at the southern border. According to CBP data, over 1,500 Iranians were arrested at the southern border during the Biden presidency, and nearly half of them were simply released into the U.S. The agency also reported more than 70,000 migrants from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, including Iran, have been apprehended since 2021.
These numbers only reflect those caught; countless others may have evaded detection. Iran, a regime with a well-documented history of sponsoring terrorism and anti-American activities, has the motive and capability to exploit our once-lawless borders. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force have long trained operatives to blend into civilian populations, waiting for orders to strike. The possibility that some of these Iranians are sleeper agents – trained to infiltrate, assimilate, and strike when activated – cannot be dismissed.
Even more disturbing is that Iran has been establishing a presence in America’s backyard for years. Iran’s primary terror client, Hezbollah, has a growing presence in Latin America. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, warned Congress in 2019 that “Iran has deepened its anti-U.S. Spanish language media coverage and has exported its state support for terrorism into our hemisphere.”
The 9/11 attacks demonstrated the devastating potential of coordinated terrorist plots executed by operatives living within the United States. The 19 hijackers, many of whom entered legally but overstayed visas, exploited gaps in our immigration system.
Today, the risk is even greater. Unlike the 9/11 hijackers, who faced stricter vetting processes, Iranians crossing illegally in the Biden era faced minimal scrutiny due to overwhelmed border facilities and policies that prioritized rapid processing over thorough background checks. Once inside, these individuals can disappear into communities, potentially joining existing networks of sympathizers or awaiting instructions from Tehran.
The FBI has repeatedly warned that Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah maintain sleeper cells in the U.S., capable of conducting attacks on critical infrastructure, public spaces, or government targets. A single coordinated strike – targeting a power grid, transportation hub, or major event – could rival or exceed the devastation of 9/11.
The Trump administration recognized these dangers and took decisive action to secure the border. Trump’s policies in his first term – including the construction of over 450 miles of border wall, enhanced vetting for migrants from high-risk countries, and the “Remain in Mexico” policy – reduced illegal crossings and strengthened national security.
The administration also prioritized deportations, focusing on those with criminal records or ties to hostile nations. These measures were designed to deter and detect potential threats before they could take root. Critics decried these policies as harsh, but they were rooted in timeless wisdom: a nation without secure borders is a nation at risk. The current crisis with Iran validates Trump’s approach, exposing the recklessness of dismantling these protections.
The standoff with Iran is a wake-up call. While missiles and drones dominate headlines, the silent threat of sleeper agents crossing a loosely enforced border poses a far greater risk. We cannot afford to wait for another 9/11 to act. The warnings from experts like Homan, coupled with the undeniable vulnerabilities exposed by the Biden administration’s policies, demand immediate action.
As anti-borders activists spread fear comparing its policies to those of fascist dictatorships, the Trump administration’s focus on border security is not just prudent – it is prescient. By further sealing our borders and prioritizing the removal of potentially dangerous foreigners, we can protect the homeland from the hidden threat lurking within.
