US arrests alleged Saddam-era officer in Michigan

The US Department of Homeland Security (HSI) has arrested Raad Alanbagi, a man from Michigan, who is accused of being an intelligence officer in Saddam Hussein's regime. HSI announced the detention on X, describing Mr Alanbagi as a high-ranking former officer in the former Iraqi dictator's government. The agency continues to safeguard communities and national security.

HSI special agents apprehended Mr Alanbagi after an HSI-led investigation revealed ties to his past service as a high-ranking Iraqi intelligence officer during Saddam Hussein's rule. However, his immigration status at the time of arrest and how he managed to move to the US with such connections remain unclear. The charges against him are also unknown, as no federal indictment is listed against him in Michigan's government database.

The National has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for further details. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who were or are members of totalitarian parties are generally inadmissible to the US. Providing false information when applying for a US visa or citizenship can lead to deportation and a lifetime ban on re-entry.

Mr Alanbagi's arrest is not the first time the US has taken action against individuals linked to Saddam Hussein's government. In 2020, former colonel Saad Al Qaysy received a three-year probation and had his US citizenship revoked after being convicted of lying to obtain it.