Report: Over 700 Iranian nationals freed into US under Biden

Brace yourself for a border security bombshell that’s raising eyebrows and alarm bells across the nation. Data uncovered by The Center Square reveals that more than 700 Iranian nationals, apprehended after crossing into the U.S. without authorization, were released into the country under the Biden administration between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, as Just the News reports. It’s a figure that’s hard to ignore, especially with national security concerns hitting fever pitch.

Here’s the crux: over those four years, Border Patrol apprehended 1,504 Iranian nationals crossing between ports of entry, with 729 of them subsequently released into the U.S., while the rest presumably faced other outcomes.

The numbers tell a troubling tale of escalation, starting with just 48 apprehensions in 2021, climbing to 197 in 2022, then 462 in 2023, before spiking to 797 in 2024. Releases followed a similar upward trend: a mere 12 in 2021, then 40, 229, and a staggering 448 in 2024. It’s a pattern that suggests the floodgates weren’t just opened—they were practically dismantled.

Annual surge in Iranian border crossings seen

Now, let’s not pretend this is just about numbers on a spreadsheet; these stats come from a Border Patrol agent who risked reprisal to share them with The Center Square on a recent Sunday. The data excludes those caught at official ports of entry or the elusive “gotaways” — folks who slip through undetected between checkpoints. Under this administration, over two million gotaways have been reported, a shadowy figure that only deepens the unease.

Speaking of gotaways, no one in either the Biden or Trump administrations can pin down how many Iranian nationals evaded capture altogether. Yet, one such individual with alleged ties to terrorism was nabbed in Buffalo, New York, by federal agents. That’s a single dot connected, but how many others are still out there, unaccounted for?

Then there’s the broader context of national security, with U.S. officials on high alert after multiple Iranians were arrested or indicted recently for supporting terrorism. Add to that the Biden administration’s record of apprehending 1,903 known or suspected terrorists — more than ever before in U.S. history — and the picture gets grimmer. Of those, 64% were caught at the northern border with Canada, while 687 were nabbed at the southwest border.

Record terrorist apprehensions under Biden

Last September, former President Joe Biden even extended a national emergency from 2001 due to heightened terrorist threats, including from Islamic groups. Meanwhile, reports indicate hundreds of unauthorized border crossers linked to ISIS were either released into the U.S. or slipped through with connections to a suspected smuggling ring. It’s the kind of revelation that makes you wonder if the welcome mat was rolled out a bit too eagerly.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) didn’t mince words when he told The Center Square, “Americans are at a greater risk for a major terrorist attack than we have been at any point since Sept. 11, 2001.” Well, senator, if open borders are the new normal, perhaps it’s no surprise that danger feels closer to home. Policies have consequences, and this one might be a ticking clock.

Cruz went on to say, “Iran has declared a jihad demanding that terrorists murder Americans.” He didn’t stop there, pointing fingers at Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for similar calls to violence. If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine, perhaps it’s time to check the pulse of our national security strategy.

Cruz warns of jihadist threats

Compounding the tension, late on a recent Saturday, President Donald Trump authorized B2 bomber strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It’s a bold move, no doubt, but one that underscores just how high the stakes have become. With Iran in the crosshairs, the timing of these border revelations couldn’t be more unsettling.

Yet, transparency remains a sore spot — U.S. Customs and Border Protection didn’t respond to inquiries about Iranian apprehensions under the Trump administration or how many were flagged as “special interest aliens” or potential terrorists. Historically, no administration, including Trump’s first term, has published such sensitive data. A congressional bill from last year aims to change that, but until then, we’re left guessing.

Border Patrol agents, often muzzled by bureaucracy, have been feeding critical, unpublished information to The Center Square throughout the Biden years about apprehensions and gotaways. It’s a quiet rebellion against a system that seems more interested in optics than answers. If only the higher-ups were as forthcoming as the folks on the front lines.

Transparency lacking on border data

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about pointing fingers at individuals crossing borders out of desperation, but about questioning policies that seem to prioritize political correctness over public safety. When record numbers of potential threats are apprehended — or worse, released — under one administration, it’s fair to ask if the progressive push for leniency has gone too far. Compassion is noble, but not at the expense of vigilance.

Consider the sheer scale of the unknown — those two million gotaways under Biden’s watch are a glaring blind spot in our border security framework. How many more potential risks slipped through while policies leaned toward openness over caution? It’s a question that demands an answer, not another press conference dodge.

So, where do we go from here with over 700 Iranian nationals released into the U.S. and countless others potentially undetected? The Biden administration’s track record on border security is now a glaring question mark, especially as terrorist threats loom larger than ever. It’s high time for policies that put American safety first, because, as it turns out, actions — or inactions — do indeed have consequences.