The State of Sleeper Cells
Kevin McCullough
In recent days, a chilling warning came from one of America’s top counterterrorism experts: Iranian sleeper cells may already be embedded inside the United States—hiding in plain sight, waiting to strike. With tensions climbing after the president’s strike on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, that warning has taken on new urgency. The threat isn’t hypothetical. It’s now a likely reality.
And while most states are coordinating with federal law enforcement, tightening security, and staying alert, California has done the unthinkable:
Add to that the fact that California is also a sanctuary state, where local officials are barred from cooperating with ICE or federal immigration authorities. That means someone could cross the border illegally, find refuge in Los Angeles or San Francisco, and never be flagged—no matter how suspicious they may be.
Now layer in this: In the last several months, over 700 Iranian nationals—designated as “special interest aliens”—have crossed our southern border illegally. They’re subject to enhanced vetting for good reason: Iran has publicly stated that it may activate foreign agents in response to U.S. military action. These are not idle threats. These are strategic assets being put in place.
It’s opted out.
California is the only state in the Union that has withdrawn entirely from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force—the primary engine for federal, state, and local cooperation in detecting and disrupting terrorism. And they did it proudly, in the name of “civil liberties.”
Let’s be blunt: the FBI’s JTTFs have disrupted plots targeting New York, Boston, and cities across the country. They are essential to homeland security. Pulling out of that network—especially now—is the domestic equivalent of turning off radar at Pearl Harbor.
Add to that the fact that California is also a sanctuary state, where local officials are barred from cooperating with ICE or federal immigration authorities. That means someone could cross the border illegally, find refuge in Los Angeles or San Francisco, and never be flagged—no matter how suspicious they may be.
Now layer in this: In the last several months, over 700 Iranian nationals—designated as “special interest aliens”—have crossed our southern border illegally. They’re subject to enhanced vetting for good reason: Iran has publicly stated that it may activate foreign agents in response to U.S. military action. These are not idle threats. These are strategic assets being put in place.
What’s the result?
A state that refuses to share intelligence…
A border hemorrhaging foreign nationals…
And a terrorist-sponsoring regime looking for soft targets.
This isn’t just a lapse in judgment. It’s a perfect storm.
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https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2025/07/08/the-state-of-sleeper-cells-n2660041
