Customs and Border Protection in New York’s Swanton Sector reported the arrest of five Iranian nationals and two Uzbek nationals near Mooers Forks, N.Y., just miles south of the U.S.–Canada border.
The group was taken into custody on July 1 after a tip led agents to a parked minivan containing the individuals, who had reportedly entered the U.S. illegally, some potentially via both northern and southern entry points.
On July 1, Border Patrol Agents from the Champlain, New York Station, responded to suspicious activity near Mooers Forks, NY. Agents located a minivan occupied by five citizens of Iran and two citizens of Uzbekistan. It was determined that all seven adult male subjects had… pic.twitter.com/PGYYYKEWEU
— Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia (@USBPChiefSWB) July 15, 2025
All seven suspects are currently detained pending removal proceedings. CBP emphasized the importance of border security, stating, “Border security is national security and directly correlates to public safety. Swanton Sector Agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders and enforcing immigration laws.”
The arrests have heightened concerns about sleeper-cell infiltration from Iran, amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Legal immigration experts have warned such border crossings may offer operatives the opportunity to embed undetected in small American towns. Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam cautioned that potential sleeper agents are “hiding in plain sight.”
The incident comes amid larger security warnings from Canadian authorities. Public Safety Canada recently confirmed that intelligence suggests Iran could be deploying covert operatives to target dissident communities on North American soil (). In response, Canada raised its terrorism threat level to “medium” and ordered increased inter-agency cooperation.
This northern-border incident provides a stark contrast to the political attention focused on the southern border crisis, showing that northern entry points can also be compromised. U.S. officials stress that small, rural crossings are equally vulnerable and require proactive patrol efforts.
The CBP described the arrests as “a direct result of tips from local citizens,” highlighting the critical role of public reporting. Since January, public monitoring of border activity in the Swanton Sector led to a 150 percent increase in alerts, though recorded illegal crossings have dropped — a sign that better intelligence may be at work.
The seven detainees are scheduled for immigration hearings in U.S. courts. CBP has urged residents near border zones to continue reporting suspicious activity and said the Swanton Sector will maintain its “heightened alert status.”
