Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed during a House budget hearing Monday that more than 1,000 Iranian nationals entered the United States illegally during the previous administration.
The disclosure came as Bondi faced questioning from lawmakers about security threats posed by Iranian nationals who crossed into the country during heightened tensions with Iran.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) pressed the attorney general on whether she knew how many Iranian nationals currently in the United States have been convicted of crimes.
Bondi acknowledged she was uncertain about conviction numbers but confirmed the significant influx during the Biden years.
“And I can tell you, we are on high alert, and everyone is looking at that very closely,” Bondi stated during the hearing.
U.S. Border Patrol arrested 1,504 Iranians at the southern border during President Joe Biden’s term in office, according to a senior Customs and Border Protection source.
Nearly half of those apprehended, totaling 729 individuals, were subsequently released into the United States.
The attorney general’s comments align with recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security regarding elevated security risks.
DHS issued a notice one day before the hearing stating that the Iran conflict “is causing a heightened threat environment in the United