Barack Obama inflicted massive damage while he was in the White House.

The country is still paying the price.

And Barack Obama was in bad shape after one arrest left authorities stunned.

Young man exploits immigration status to fuel cartel violence

Mario Elier Leal thought he found the perfect scheme to make easy money.

The 22-year-old Mexican national was living under protection from former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

But instead of using his protected status to build a better life, Leal decided to arm Mexico’s most dangerous criminals.

This week, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Leal to 97 months behind bars at a federal courthouse in McAllen, Texas.

Leal had entered a guilty plea to straw purchasing charges back in 2024.

The sentence means Leal will spend more than eight years in federal prison for his role in smuggling high-powered rifles to cartel operatives.

Since Leal lacks U.S. citizenship, immigration officials will begin deportation proceedings once he finishes serving his time.

His case reveals how criminals can exploit programs designed to help vulnerable immigrants.

Elaborate weapons trafficking scheme unraveled

Leal’s operation was sophisticated but ultimately doomed to fail.

He couldn’t legally purchase firearms himself due to his immigration status.

So Leal recruited American citizens to buy weapons on his behalf.

The young man specifically targeted AK-47-style assault rifles that cartels prize for their firepower and reliability.

When federal agents closed in, they discovered three AK-47 rifles that Leal had obtained through his network of straw purchasers.

Two young U.S. citizens had made the actual purchases since they could legally buy weapons in Texas.

But prosecutors revealed the scope of Leal’s operation extended far beyond those three rifles.

Court filings show that Leal was involved in purchasing or attempting to purchase at least 13 additional weapons.

The young man offered a simple but effective incentive to recruit his accomplices.

Leal paid each person $300 for every weapon they purchased on his behalf.

This payment structure allowed him to circumvent federal laws designed to prevent prohibited persons from obtaining firearms.

Weapons destined for Mexico’s deadliest criminals

The rifles Leal smuggled weren’t heading to legitimate buyers.

These high-powered weapons were bound for Mexico, where they would fuel ongoing cartel violence.

McAllen sits directly across the border from areas controlled by the Gulf Cartel.

While court documents don’t identify the specific criminal organization, the Gulf Cartel dominates smuggling routes in that region.

DACA program lacks proper safeguards

Leal’s case exposes serious flaws in how America handles immigration policy.

The DACA program was illegally created through executive action by Obama without congressional oversight.

It provides legal protections based on when someone entered the country, not their current behavior.

While many DACA recipients may be law-abiding, the program lacks mechanisms to identify bad actors.

There’s no systematic way to monitor whether recipients engage in criminal activity after receiving protection.

Leal used his DACA status as cover while simultaneously arming some of Mexico’s most dangerous criminals.

His actions contributed to violence that has plagued border communities for years.

The case demonstrates why immigration programs need stronger vetting and ongoing oversight.

America needs immigration policies that prioritize safety

Stories like Leal’s highlight the consequences of poorly designed immigration policies.

Programs that reward illegal entry, regardless of circumstances, can have unintended consequences.

The American people deserve policies that put public safety and national security first.

President Trump has pledged to reform immigration programs that fail to protect American communities.

Cases involving weapons trafficking to foreign criminal organizations show exactly why such reforms are necessary.

Border security isn’t just about preventing illegal crossings.

It’s also about ensuring that people who receive legal protections don’t abuse those privileges.

Mario Elier Leal betrayed the trust placed in him and chose to fuel violence instead of building a productive life.

His lengthy prison sentence and eventual deportation send a clear message about the consequences of such choices.