COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Two Iranian nationals living illegally in Colorado Springs have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a public statement, DHS confirmed that Mahmoud Shafiei and Mehrdad Mehdipour were apprehended by ICE on July 22 while living together in the Colorado Springs area.
This is not the first encounter immigration authorities have had with the two men. DHS records indicate that Shafiei was first detained in Seattle, Washington, in January 1981, and was ordered deported in 1987. He reportedly has a criminal history that includes state and federal drug convictions, as well as arrests for assault and child abuse.
Mehdipour, meanwhile, was first encountered by immigration authorities in June 2023 near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. DHS said he was designated for expedited removal at that time.
Their arrests are part of a nationwide ICE enforcement operation that took place over the weekend and specifically targeted Iranian nationals. According to DHS, a total of 11 arrests were made, including:
An individual allegedly linked to Hezbollah
A suspected terrorist
A former Iranian army sniper
All individuals are now in ICE custody, and DHS says investigations into their immigration and criminal histories are ongoing.
