U.S. on High Alert for Terror Threats After Trump’s Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Just hours after President Donald Trump announced successful U.S. airstrikes that destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities, officials across the nation are warning of a heightened terror threat on American soil. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a National Terrorism Advisory bulletin Sunday, citing a “heightened threat environment” linked to possible retaliation by Iran and its proxies.
The DHS memo, released following Trump’s address to the nation, points to the potential activation of sleeper cells and independent extremist actors in response to U.S. military action. While the advisory mentions no specific threats, it comes after Iranian officials vowed to respond to the strikes, which significantly set back the regime’s nuclear program.
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if the Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence,” the bulletin warned. DHS added that the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict brings increased risks of cyberattacks, antisemitic hate crimes, and potential violence targeting government, military, and pro-Israel institutions.
Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Fox News Digital that the open U.S. border under the Biden administration has left the country vulnerable to infiltration. “Because of the open borders, we are at a serious catch-up phase,” Swecker said. “We don’t know where those thousand Iranians are and who knows how many others got across the border. We missed the opportunity to gather intel by interviewing them and thoroughly vetting them. We just simply let them go, which is gross negligence.”
According to U.S. officials, over 1,200 Iranian nationals have illegally entered the U.S. during Biden’s presidency. Many are classified as “special interest aliens” — individuals from countries known to sponsor terrorism. Federal and state law enforcement agencies have arrested dozens of these individuals, some with alleged ties to the Iranian military and intelligence services.
Authorities are also investigating recent cases linked to Iranian operatives. In April alone, multiple indictments alleged schemes involving drone components, weapons of mass destruction, and smuggling operations tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Officials say these plots highlight the sophisticated efforts of Iran’s intelligence apparatus to target U.S. interests.
Law enforcement agencies in cities such as New York, Washington, and Los Angeles have increased patrols at synagogues, mosques, diplomatic sites, and other potential targets. “We’re deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC,” the NYPD said on X, emphasizing coordination with federal partners.
Michael Balboni, a former homeland security advisor for New York, said that critical infrastructure, such as electrical grids, transportation hubs, and medical facilities, is especially at risk. “Iranian operatives are determined and sophisticated,” Balboni warned. “The question is how many are in the country — and the answer is, we don’t know.”
Federal agencies are also on high alert for cyberattacks, with the DHS noting the likelihood of pro-Iranian hacktivists targeting U.S. networks. “Iran has a long-standing commitment to target U.S. government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020,” DHS said.
Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection, as well as airport security, have ramped up inspections, while intelligence agencies monitor online chatter for signs of emerging threats.
“This is a time for calm, professionalism, information sharing, and heightened awareness,” Balboni said. “The U.S. has faced challenges like this before, but the scope of this threat requires extraordinary vigilance.”
President Trump, in his Saturday night address, urged Iran to choose peace. But he also warned that additional U.S. strikes would follow if hostilities continued. “We will not hesitate to protect American lives and interests,” Trump said.
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