The United States, through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), has arrested Ribvar Karimi, a former sniper in Iran’s military between 2018 and 2021.
Karimi was arrested on Sunday in the city of Locust Fork, in the state of Alabama, where he was living with his American wife.
At the time of his arrest, Karimi was found in possession of a badge belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Although he entered the country on a fiancée visa in October 2024, he did not continue the process to change his immigration status, which made him unlawfully present in the country.
In a separate investigation, ICE also arrested Mehran Makari Saheli, a 56-year-old former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who admitted to ties with Hezbollah. Although he had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal firearm possession, he had continued hiding after being ordered deported in 2022.
Two other individuals suspected of violent behavior were also arrested: one in Arizona found with a 9mm firearm, and another accused of domestic abuse.
All have been detained by ICE as they await deportation to their countries of origin. Karimi’s wife, who is seven months pregnant, says her husband loves America and had no bad intentions.
