Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News that an "unusual amount" of Iranian nationals with alleged IRGC links have recently tried to enter the U.S., primarily via the northern border. He said U.S. authorities are coordinating with Canada and that detained individuals often show direct ties to the IRGC. Mullin also claimed Iran tried to list IRGC officials as part of its World Cup delegation; the U.S. allowed only 53 Iranian entrants compared with roughly 120 typical delegation members.
DHS Secretary Says Iranians With IRGC Links Tried To Enter U.S. Posing As World Cup Delegation
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News that an "unusual amount" of Iranian nationals with alleged ties to Tehran's theocratic regime have recently attempted to enter the United States, including several individuals he said have direct links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and who were reported to be posing as members of Iran's World Cup delegation.
Details From the Fox News Interview
Mullin discussed the issue during an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. He said the attempts were occurring primarily at the northern border rather than the southern border, and that arrests of Iranian nationals entering from Canada have increased.
"We’ve seen an unusual amount of Iranian nationals trying to sneak in through our Northern [Border] — not Southern Border, because President Trump’s policies have closed the southern border," Mullin said, adding that U.S. authorities are working closely with Canadian partners to apprehend and screen people trying to cross.
Mullin told Bartiromo that when those detained are processed, investigators frequently find evidence of direct ties to the IRGC. When asked whether people crossing from Canada were fleeing Iran or affiliated with the IRGC, he said the majority showed direct connections to the theocratic regime.
World Cup Delegation Allegation
The secretary also alleged that Iran tried to list several IRGC officials as part of its World Cup delegation. Mullin said most national soccer delegations typically include roughly 120 people, but U.S. authorities permitted only 53 Iranian entrants because many of the applicants were considered suspicious.
"The rest of the individuals that Iran had tried to bring in, all also had direct ties to the IRGC and aren’t their normal traveling group," Mullin said. "So these games that Iran plays, unfortunately, makes them an adversary that you can’t trust."
These remarks aired as Vice President JD Vance was reported to be in Switzerland pursuing progress on a deal with Iran. The DHS secretary's comments raise fresh questions about cross-border vetting and coordination with Canadian authorities.
Note: These are statements made by the DHS secretary during a televised interview. This article reports those claims and they have not been independently verified here.
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