US Homeland Security Warns of Iranian Nationals Attempting to Enter via Canada-US Border

On 21 June 2026, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin appeared on Fox News’ "Sunday Morning Futures" to warn that officials have noticed a surge in Iranian nationals trying to cross the Canada‑U.S. border in the north.

Mullin explained that the uptick is a direct consequence of the southern border’s closure under former President Donald Trump. "We’ve seen an unusual amount of Iranian nationals trying to sneak in through our northern, not southern border, because President Trump’s policies have closed the southern border," he said.

The Secretary noted that daily arrests of Iranian nationals at the northern frontier have risen sharply and that many of those apprehended have documented ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite security arm. The IRGC, founded in 1979, operates separately from the regular army and is widely regarded by U.S. officials as a key tool for advancing the Iranian regime’s political and security agenda.

Mullin warned that the IRGC’s presence in the United States poses a significant threat, citing the organization’s history of covert operations abroad. "It’s hard to get out of the country of Iran unless you have a path to do so," he said, implying that individuals linked to the IRGC might use the border to enter the U.S. for illicit purposes.

During the interview, Mullin referenced the 2026 FIFA World Cup, noting that Iran’s national team was scheduled to play a match in Los Angeles on the day of the interview. He said the team’s delegation typically includes around 120 people, and the U.S. had accepted 53 individuals from the Iranian delegation. Mullin claimed that the remaining individuals who attempted to enter the country had direct ties to the IRGC and were not part of the normal travel group.

"They tried to get somebody in yesterday. He was supposed to be the president of the soccer federation. When we started doing the research on him, he’d already been put in place since 2022, and we didn’t allow him to board the plane," Mullin recounted. He added that the Iranian soccer team is based in Tijuana, Mexico, and that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts biometric checks on passengers as they board and disembark.

The interview was part of a broader DHS effort to monitor potential security threats at U.S. borders. The department’s mandate includes preventing terrorism, managing immigration, and protecting the homeland. In recent months, DHS has intensified cooperation with CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track individuals with ties to foreign security forces.

Mullin’s remarks come amid heightened concerns about Iranian influence operations in North America. In March 2026, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert to help financial institutions identify and stop funding streams that support the IRGC.

No independent verification of the specific arrests or the identities of the individuals mentioned in the interview has been released by DHS or CBP. The statements reflect the Secretary’s assessment of the situation.

The U.S. government has not yet issued a formal policy change regarding the northern border. However, the Secretary’s remarks suggest that DHS is monitoring the situation closely and may adjust enforcement priorities if the trend continues.

The situation remains fluid, and officials have not confirmed whether additional Iranian nationals will attempt to cross the northern border in the coming weeks.

In summary, U.S. Homeland Security officials, led by Secretary Markwayne Mullin, have warned of an uptick in Iranian nationals attempting to enter the United States via the Canada‑U.S. border, many of whom are alleged to have ties to Iran’s IRGC. The department is reportedly intensifying surveillance and enforcement at the northern border in response to these reports.