Discussion centers around threat of Sleeper Cells in the U.S. after taking out Iran Nuclear sites
On WBAP 820, h Joshua Philipp, senior investigative reporter for The Epoch Times joined the morning team for a sobering conversation about the growing threat of Iran-linked sleeper cells inside the U.S., accentuated by lax immigration and porous borders. Philipp emphasized that the danger is no longer hypothetical, but pressing—and bolstered by reports from U.S. intelligence and his own field research.
Philipp opened by referencing a leaked Customs and Border Protection memo noting over 700 Iranian nationals released into the U.S. in recent months, despite being classified as “special-interest aliens” requiring enhanced vetting
Those arrivals, Philipp warned, are not just migrants—they could include covert operatives placed deliberately, or individuals positioned to act if Tehran issues its long-threatened activation orders.
He described Iran’s use of sleeper cells as a tried-and-true tactic—threats issued in reaction to U.S. airstrikes, with Tehran reserving the right to activate quietly embedded operatives . Philipp underlined that DHS and FBI have already issued internal alerts regarding this type of risk, focusing on both digital attacks (cyber sabotage) and physical terrorist strikes by sleeper agents .
A striking part of the interview came when Philipp shared his own encounter in Panama, where he spent weeks investigating migration routes. There, he met individuals who fit the profile: Middle Eastern males traveling covertly through the Darien Gap, indistinguishable from migrants but bearing suspicious digital footprints, encrypted communications, and behavior that flagged him as potential sleepers. Philipp stressed this isn’t conjecture—it’s firsthand field reporting
Transitioning to how sleeper cells operate, Philipp explained that these agents have a singular mission: to “blend in until called to action.” They train abroad with proxies like Hezbollah or Iran’s Quds Force, then obtain forged documents or exploit weak visa systems to enter the U.S. Once here, they lie dormant—working regular jobs, paying taxes, waiting for a directive .
Philipp contrasted current risk levels with the pre-9/11 landscape, arguing the U.S. has grown complacent. He referenced FBI data indicating that Iran-backed terror threats are projected to rise significantly in the coming quarter . He cautioned listeners: these aren’t just online warnings or partisan rhetoric—they follow a specific blueprint that has repeatedly preceded terror plots.
When asked about solutions, Philipp called for bicameral immigration reform, robust vetting of high-risk nationalities, more border staffing, and post-entry monitoring of migrants from special-interest countries. He urged the U.S. to disrupt terror networks at the source—but also to see threats abroad and within.
On digital threats, he explained how sleeper networks are increasingly merging with cyberterror—operatives coordinated via encrypted apps, poised to disrupt infrastructure or target elected officials at scale. This, he warned, is the new frontier of Iranian-sponsored terror emanating not from Tehran’s missiles, but from within.
In closing, Philipp urged Americans to treat border security as national security. He insisted this isn’t xenophobic rhetoric—it’s informed by empirical field work, leaked government memos, and chilling patterns. The risk is real, inside our borders, and the time to respond is now.
Key Takeaways:
Over 700 Iranians entered the U.S. recently, many under expedited releases that sidestep vetting.
DHS and FBI have issued internal alerts warning about sleeper cells from Iran-linked terror groups.
Philipp’s encounter in Panama uncovered individuals matching sleeper-cell modus operandi.
Iran uses a coordinated infiltration blueprint—training abroad, entering undetected, awaiting activation.
Solutions include stricter vetting, border enforcement, and surveillance of high-risk migrants.
The threat now spans both physical and cyber domains—a hybrid terror model.
Philipp’s segment is a must-listen for those covering national security, border policy, or Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy.
