A chilling new bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is putting Americans on high alert. In the wake of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, federal officials are warning that the homeland may now be a direct target.

In its Monday update to the National Terrorism Advisory System, DHS outlined a “heightened threat environment” resulting from the sudden escalation between Iran and Western powers. Pro-Iranian cyberattacks are considered likely, with state-sponsored hackers and rogue “hacktivists” already probing U.S. digital infrastructure. More troubling, the department flagged potential retaliation targeting American officials involved in the 2020 killing of a senior Iranian commander.

The warning comes just days after President Donald Trump confirmed a successful air campaign against multiple Iranian nuclear sites. Although the Biden-era intelligence community had downplayed the risk of major consequences, DHS under Secretary Kristi Noem is taking a far more serious tone. Noem briefed reporters on Monday, saying the nation was operating under an “elevated” threat level and hinted at possible sleeper cells embedded within the country.

“There is an increased likelihood of homegrown violent extremists acting independently,” the bulletin said. DHS emphasized that threats could intensify further if Iran’s leadership issues a religious decree urging violence. The advisory also cited recent domestic terror attacks tied to anti-Semitic and anti-Israel motives, suggesting a volatile climate where foreign conflict rapidly metastasizes on U.S. soil.

In addition to threats inside the homeland, DHS noted that foreign terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others have publicly called for action against American assets overseas. These coordinated statements have compounded fears that sympathizers or operatives already on U.S. soil might follow suit.

RedState and other conservative outlets have drawn a direct line between the threat and the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Reporting shows that under President Biden, more than 1,500 Iranian nationals crossed the southern border illegally, with roughly half released into the interior. Former Border Patrol officials say the flood of “special interest aliens” from countries like Iran represents a massive intelligence blind spot.

Tom Homan, who previously served as acting director of ICE and remains a vocal border hawk, warned of the dangers during a recent Fox News interview. “We don’t know who they are, where they came from, because they got away,” he said. “Over two million people crossed the border and got away. That’s the biggest national security vulnerability this country’s ever seen.”

While DHS has not confirmed any Iranian nationals released by CBP are linked to terror cells, the absence of concrete data only underscores how porous and poorly monitored the system has become. Many conservatives now believe the federal government is playing a dangerous game of catch-up with enemies already inside our borders.

In the meantime, DHS is urging citizens to remain alert and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or the FBI. As officials continue to assess the fallout from the Middle East, Americans are being reminded that the real battleground may no longer be overseas—it could be right next door.