Attorney General Questioned on Iranian Immigration During Hearing
During a House budget hearing on Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondy faced questions regarding Iranians who entered the U.S. illegally under the Biden administration. This inquiry followed warnings from the Trump administration about potential conflicts with Iran.
During the session, Representative Tony Gonzalez from Texas inquired if Bondy was aware of how many Iranians were convicted of crimes in the U.S. Bondy admitted she wasn’t certain but mentioned that over 1,000 Iranians had entered the country during the previous administration.
“We’re on alert, and everyone is keeping a close eye on it,” Bondy noted.
Interestingly, Trump has hinted at a possible return to diplomatic relations, especially after labeling Iran’s recent responses to attacks on nuclear facilities as “weak.”
According to a senior source in customs and border protection, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested 1,504 Iranians at the southern border while Biden was in office. Almost half of these individuals, specifically 729, were subsequently released into the U.S.
Bondy’s comments align with a statement made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which noted that the ongoing conflict with Iran is increasing threats within the U.S. The DHS warned about the potential for violence should Iranian leaders call for mobilization, as well as a rise in anti-Semitic cyberattacks.
When Gonzalez pressed Bondy about the threat of Iran’s “sleep cells,” she hesitated, stating she could not discuss that topic in detail in such an environment.
This line of questioning arose amid a rapidly changing situation in the Middle East, with Trump having chosen to intervene over the weekend.
More than 700 Iranians have been permitted into the U.S., despite the concerns about terrorism. The Trump administration had conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, along with missile attacks on a U.S. military base near Doha, Qatar. Trump mentioned that Iranian forces had given them “early notifications” about these attacks, ensuring there were no casualties.
Later on Monday, Trump stated that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran would go into effect soon, although similar ceasefire deals have collapsed in the past.
Recently, the Department of Justice highlighted a murder-for-hire scheme allegedly linked to Iran. Three men were indicted last year for plotting to assassinate Trump before the 2024 election, alongside targeting journalists. One suspect, an Afghan national, is reportedly at large and believed to have been financed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
“These charges reveal Iran’s ongoing attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President Trump and critics of the Tehran administration,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray during the indictment announcement.
