Bondi says DOJ is watching ‘very closely’ for illegal Iranian immigrant activity
Attorney General Pam Bondi faced tough questions during a recent House budget hearing regarding Iranian nationals who entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration. The Trump administration had previously warned that the conflict with Iran posed a heightened threat to the country.
Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas inquired about the number of Iranian nationals in the U.S. who have been convicted of crimes. Bondi admitted she was unsure of the exact figure but revealed that over 1,000 Iranians had entered the country during the previous administration.
With concerns escalating, Bondi emphasized that authorities are on high alert and closely monitoring the situation. Border Patrol data showed that 1,504 Iranians were arrested at the southern border during President Biden’s term, with 729 of them being released into the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning about the heightened threat environment in the U.S. due to the Iran conflict. The DHS highlighted the potential for extremists within the country to mobilize to violence if prompted by Iranian leaders. Additionally, cyberattacks and incidents of antisemitism were expected to rise.
When asked about the presence of Iranian “sleeper cells,” Bondi refrained from providing details in the public setting. The questioning took place during a hearing on the Department of Justice’s budget proposal as tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate.
Former President Trump’s decision to intervene in the conflict resulted in airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting a retaliatory missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar. Despite no casualties, the situation remained volatile as Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the success of which remained uncertain.
In a separate development, the DOJ had indicted three individuals in connection to a murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran. The scheme targeted Trump and a journalist, with one suspect still at large and believed to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The charges underscored Iran’s ongoing efforts to target U.S. citizens and dissenters critical of the regime. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the brazen nature of Iran’s actions in his statement regarding the indictment.
As the situation continues to evolve, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring potential threats posed by Iranian actors within the U.S. The information gathered during the hearing sheds light on the complexities of national security and the challenges posed by foreign adversaries.
—
This rewritten content has been tailored to seamlessly integrate into a WordPress platform, maintaining the original HTML tags, headings, and key points from the source article.
