The Democrats in Congress are constantly posturing. AG Pam Bondi has no patience for that.
That’s why Pam Bondi slapped a Democrat Senator across the face with a reality check during a hearing.
Trump Administration Takes Hard Line on Border Security and Illegal Arms Trafficking
The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to curb illegal firearms trafficking and secure the U.S. border, with Attorney General Pam Bondi leading a robust defense of these policies during a contentious Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday. Bondi sharply rebuked Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who questioned the administration’s commitment to stopping American weapons from reaching Mexican gangs.
Since President Donald Trump’s second term began on January 20, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has intercepted nearly 9,700 firearms that could have fallen into the hands of dangerous individuals in Mexico, according to a May 2 press release. This marks a significant escalation in enforcement compared to the previous administration, showcasing the Trump administration’s focus on disrupting illegal arms flows.
“What are we doing to stop American weapons going to Mexico to arm their gangs?” Reed asked during the hearing, pressing Bondi on the issue.
“We are arresting people who have illegal firearms in our country,” Bondi responded firmly. “We’re not sending people back to Mexico with guns. We’re throwing them in our jails and prosecuting them.”
Reed pushed back, arguing that the administration was allowing weapons to be purchased in the U.S. and transported across the border. “No, you’re allowing them to be purchased in the United States and driven across the border,” he said. “Most of these gangs have completely turned themselves into military organizations because they’re using American weapons, American technology, and your argument is that, well, we’re not doing anything about them.”
Bondi swiftly rejected Reed’s claims, pointing to the failures of the Biden administration’s border policies. “No, not my argument. That was the policy of the last four years of the Biden administration with open borders. You could come back and forth across our borders. You could buy guns. You could take guns off the street,” she said. “You could shoot people in our country. You could bring fentanyl into our country. You could bring methamphetamine into our country. You could bring cocaine into our country. That was the previous administration, not this one.”
The attorney general highlighted the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against cartels and illegal trafficking. “Our borders are closed. We are arresting illegal cartels. Sinaloa from Mexico, MS-13 from El Salvador, TdA [Tren de Aragua]. We are arresting from Venezuela,” Bondi said. “ATF has seized over 14,600 guns since Donald Trump has been president. That’s a 33% increase from the last administration. And think about that. That’s when our border is secure. They weren’t doing anything.”
Reed, undeterred, claimed Bondi’s efforts were insufficient. “I don’t think you’ve done anything to severely interrupt the arming of Mexican gangs because that’s really not what your focus — and I think your focus should be on that,” he said.
The numbers tell a different story. U.S. Border Patrol reported zero illegal migrants released into the country in May, a sharp contrast to the 62,000 released in May 2024 under Biden’s border policies. This dramatic reduction easily demonstrates the Trump administration’s success in tightening border security.
Bondi’s testimony comes amid serious concerns about national security, including the entry of foreign nationals during the Biden years. According to Bondi, more than 1,000 Iranian citizens entered the U.S. during Biden’s presidency. “I am unsure,” Bondi said on Monday during a House budget hearing when asked about Iranians who entered illegally. “But more than 1,000 (Iranians) entered during the last administration. And I can tell you, we (Department of Justice) are on high alert, and everyone is looking at that very closely.”
Fox News, citing a senior Customs and Border Protection source, reported that 1,504 Iranians were arrested at the southern border during Biden’s term, with 729 released into the U.S. This influx has raised alarms, particularly as the Trump administration navigates heightened tensions with Iran.
Bondi declined to comment on potential Iranian “sleeper cells” in the U.S., stating, “I could not talk about that in this setting.” Pam Bondi is not able to provide some sensitive intel during public Congressional hearings, especially intel that pertains to international conflicts.
The hearing coincided with escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, following U.S. military strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites. The strikes were part of America’s support for its ally Israel in the ongoing conflict centered on Iran’s nuclear program. In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the Trump administration announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel, Iran, and other parties, halting the conflict for now.
The naysayers said Trump was starting World War III;
Instead, we got a CEASEFIRE after destroying Iran's nuclear program — and likely several more Middle East peace deals on the horizon.
I stand by what I said just before this ceasefire news broke:
"Rather than 34 felony… pic.twitter.com/VIqySeBCJg
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) June 23, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
