Federal agents have arrested a former senior intelligence officer who served under Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, officials announced this weekend.
Homeland Security Investigations agents based in Detroit took Raad Alanbagi into custody following an investigation that revealed his prior service as a high-ranking member of Hussein’s intelligence apparatus. The arrest took place in the Detroit metropolitan area, though the precise location and circumstances remain undisclosed.
“HSI special agents arrested Raad Alanbagi after an HSI-led investigation uncovered information tying him to prior service as a high-ranking Iraqi intelligence officer during the Saddam Hussein era,” the agency stated. “HSI continues to safeguard our communities and national security.”
The facts available at this time remain limited. Federal authorities have not disclosed when Alanbagi entered the United States, how long he has resided in the country, or under what circumstances he was admitted. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided additional details regarding the investigation or any potential charges.
Homeland Security Investigations operates as the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on transnational crime and threats. The agency’s mandate includes combating drug and weapons trafficking, cyber and financial crimes, illegal technology exports, intellectual property violations, and crimes against children.
The arrest occurred in an area near Dearborn, a Detroit suburb that houses the largest per capita Muslim population in the United States. More than half of Dearborn’s residents trace their ancestry to the Middle East or North Africa, making it a unique demographic center within the American landscape.
The community has drawn attention in recent months. In one notable incident, members of Dearborn’s city council declined to denounce Sharia law when confronted by a local pastor during a town hall meeting. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell declared that “America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law.”
In a separate development, a religious leader at a mosque in neighboring Dearborn Heights spoke about Islam’s future in America. Sheikh Ibrahim Yassine stated that Islam and the Shiite faith are “coming to America” and that adherents would help “build America.” He added, “We will build America on the basis of moral civilization and Islam.”
Michigan’s political landscape reflects these demographic shifts. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat, is seeking to become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate from the state. El-Sayed has stated publicly that he intends to live his life according to Sharia law. He has faced scrutiny for displaying a book authored by an Islamic scholar connected to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The arrest of Alanbagi raises questions about immigration vetting procedures and how individuals with ties to hostile foreign regimes gain entry to the United States. Those questions await answers as the investigation proceeds.
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