Mehran Makari Saheli/Iran/Felon In Possession of a Firearm

On June 22, in St. Paul, Minnesota, ICE arrested Mehran Makari Saheli, a 56-year-old Iranian national who has a troubling background involving weapons violations and ties to foreign militant groups. Saheli, who was previously convicted in Minneapolis for being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. He is now in ICE custody, where he will remain pending removal.

Saheli is a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military branch of the Iranian regime that the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. During his prior legal proceedings, he reportedly admitted to having connections with Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon. These affiliations raised national security concerns and contributed to his ordered removal from the United States.

An immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Saheli on June 28, 2022. Despite that order, he remained in the country illegally for nearly two years under the Biden administration before ICE located and apprehended him. Saheli’s continued presence in the United States was unauthorized, and he had not taken steps to depart as legally required.

ICE has placed him into custody to ensure compliance with the removal order. Given his criminal conviction, terrorist affiliations, and long-standing immigration violations, Saheli is considered a high-priority individual for enforcement.