During a House budget hearing on Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that over a thousand Iranian nationals have illegally crossed into the United States during President Joe Biden's administration. This significant number was disclosed as Bondi faced inquiries from lawmakers concerning the potential security threats these individuals might pose, particularly in light of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The issue came to the forefront when Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) questioned the Attorney General about the number of Iranian nationals, currently residing in the U.S., who have been convicted of crimes. While Bondi could not provide specific conviction statistics, she confirmed the substantial influx during Biden's term and emphasized the heightened state of alert, stating, "And I can tell you, we are on high alert, and everyone is looking at that very closely."
According to a senior Customs and Border Protection source, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested 1,504 Iranians at the southern border during President Biden’s tenure. Notably, nearly half of those apprehended, amounting to 729 individuals, were released into the United States. These figures come against the backdrop of recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about elevated security risks due to the Iran conflict.
DHS issued a notice just a day prior to the hearing, advising that the strife with Iran "is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States." The department highlighted concerns about the possibility of extremists within the country "independently mobilizing to violence" upon commands from Iranian leaders. Additionally, DHS cautioned about the potential uptick in cyberattacks and antisemitic incidents as the tension escalates.
When probed by Gonzales about the threat of Iranian "sleeper cells," Bondi declined to comment in the public forum, stating, "I cannot talk about that in this setting." The exchange happened during a Department of Justice budget hearing for the forthcoming fiscal year, amidst rapidly unfolding Middle East conflicts.
The Trump administration recently took decisive military action, launching airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. In response, Iran conducted a missile strike on a U.S. military base near Doha, Qatar. President Trump confirmed that there were no American casualties from the attack, attributed to the "early notice" given by Iranian officials.
Subsequently, Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran would commence within hours. However, considering the history of collapsed ceasefire deals in the region, this development raises questions about its potential to maintain stability.
In related news, the Justice Department has charged three men in connection with an Iran-linked assassination plot aimed at Donald Trump prior to the 2024 election. The indictment also implicates plans to assassinate a journalist. FBI Director Christopher Wray described the charges as evidence of Iran's ongoing attempts to target American citizens and government officials.
The situation remains tense as officials continue to monitor the movements and activities of Iranian nationals within the United States. The implications of these events are far-reaching, affecting not only national security but also international relations and the ongoing dialogue about immigration and border control policies.
