Resident-elect Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, delivered a stern warning to Democratic lawmakers.
Homan sent a “clear message” to sanctuary cities that oppose the incoming administration’s stricter border policies: either get on board or step aside.
Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, centered around immigration policy, included a promise to launch the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. Homan, with his role as a key figure in immigration policy, is critical to the success of Trump’s administration.
The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sharply criticized Democrats who oppose Trump’s signature mass deportation plan on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures.
“You’ve got San Diego writing legislation. You’ve got Colorado and other states and cities saying they’ll prevent us from doing what I’m doing. I want to send a clear message,” Homan stated.
“If you let us into the jail, we can arrest the bad guys there, safely and securely. One officer can handle that. But when you release a public safety threat back into the community, you risk the safety of the community, my officers, and even the alien themselves,” he continued.
Homan added, “Here’s what will happen—if you release that guy into the community, I’ll send a whole team to find him. And what will happen? We’ll find him. And when we do, we’ll probably come across others who aren’t a priority, but if they’re in the country illegally, they’ll be arrested too. We won’t do what this [Biden] administration did and turn our back on illegal immigrants. Immigration officers have an oath to uphold. You’re forcing us into the community in large numbers, which means other non-priority aliens will be arrested as well. That’s the exact outcome you don’t want, so let us in the jail—it’s safer for everyone.”
Homan has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. His appointment as border czar has been praised by GOP lawmakers.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz told Newsweek that Homan will take the U.S.-Mexico border crisis seriously.
“Tom Homan is a serious man. He takes this seriously. And I think you’ll see real resources devoted to finding the murderers, rapists, and child molesters who are illegal aliens and free in communities,” Cruz said.
Some Democrats, however, have expressed a willingness to work with Homan on border security measures.
Rep. Henry Cuellar shared, “I’ve been in communication with Tom Homan, and we’ve agreed to sit down. He’s been through different administrations, and he knows his job very well. I certainly want to work with him.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams is also expected to meet with Homan on Thursday.
“I’m looking forward to sitting down and speaking with the border czar next week,” Adams said on MSNBC. “I want to hear the actual plan and how we’re going to operationalize it.”
Homan, who served as acting ICE director from 2017 to 2018, was a major force behind the controversial family separation policy.
“I’m sick and tired of hearing about family separation,” Homan remarked. “I’m still being sued over that, but I don’t give a s***. Bottom line, we enforced the law.”
Meanwhile, human rights groups have strongly criticized Homan’s appointment, citing concerns about his past actions and statements, which they see as harmful to immigrant rights and marginalized communities.
His comments regarding immigrant communities have been described as inflammatory and dehumanizing.
Amy Fischer, Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International USA, previously told Newsweek, “President-elect Trump has already openly announced his intention to implement policies that completely disregard human rights, human dignity, and family unity. The proposed policies are rooted in racism and xenophobia, aiming solely to cause immense suffering to people coming to the U.S. to rebuild their lives.”
