Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s request to serve as the “border czar” in his second administration, taking on a critical role to address the nation’s border crisis.
SECURE BORDERS SAVE LIVES: When you sit down and talk to a nine year old little girl that has been raped multiple times and look into her eyes and every bit of humanity has been stolen from her and everything innocent, it breaks your heart and it pisses me off. pic.twitter.com/rW6BqppTz6 [1]
— Truth Justice ™ (@SpartaJustice) November 11, 2024 [2]
In his first interview [3] since the announcement, Homan expressed his determination to implement measures that he believes are necessary to restore border security.
In an appearance on Fox & Friends on Monday, Homan shared his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “I’ve been on this network for years complaining about what this administration did to this border. I’ve been yelling and screaming about it and what they need to do to fix it. So when the president asked me, ‘Would you come back and fix it?’ Of course. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t. I’m honored the president asked me to come back and help solve this national security crisis, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Homan, a retired ICE director and former Border Patrol agent, emphasized the urgency of the mission, expressing frustration over the border policies under the Biden administration. “Every morning… I’m pissed off with what this [Biden] administration did to the most secure border in my lifetime, so I’m going to go back and do what I can to fix it,” he said.
The announcement came from Trump on Truth Social on Sunday, appointing Homan to a role currently held by Kamala Harris. Homan’s task will involve implementing a border policy aimed at reducing illegal immigration and prioritizing the deportation of those who pose public safety or national security threats, including individuals connected to drug cartels and human trafficking.
The urgency behind Homan’s appointment is driven by record-high illegal border crossings. According to Homeland Security, nearly three million crossings were recorded in fiscal year 2024 alone, and over 10.8 million encounters since FY 2021.
Trump, who has made illegal immigration a core component of his campaign platform since 2016, has doubled down on pledges to reinstate strict border measures, including mass deportations and border wall construction.
Homan has significant experience in immigration enforcement, having served as the first ICE director to rise through the ranks after starting his career as a Border Patrol agent.
He emphasized his commitment to working alongside the men and women of ICE, saying, “I was the first ICE director that came up through the ranks, so the 20,000 men and women that worked for me, I didn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, because I was one of them.”
Since news of his role circulated, Homan reported an outpouring of support from current and retired law enforcement and military personnel eager to assist in border operations. “Thousands of retired agents, retired military [have called] that want to come in and volunteer to help this president secure the border and do this deportation operation,” he noted.
Despite receiving death threats in response to his position, Homan remains resolute. “That’s something we’re going to deal with. They’re not going to shut me up. They’re not going to make me go away,” he asserted, adding, “This is the biggest national security vulnerability this nation has seen since 9/11. We have to fix it.”
The appointment is among Trump’s first major staffing decisions following his successful election campaign. Trump has so far announced Susie Wiles as his White House Chief of Staff and Elise Stefanik as U.N. Ambassador but has yet to reveal further Cabinet selections.
Homan’s role will likely involve re-establishing border policies from Trump’s first term, which included an emphasis on enforcing existing immigration laws and reducing illegal entries.
With Homan’s experience and Trump’s commitment to border security, the administration aims to reverse policies enacted under President Biden, focusing on an immigration strategy built around the “America First” doctrine.
Original article below:
President-elect Donald Trump announced [4] on Sunday that he intends to appoint former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Thomas Homan as the nation’s new “border czar.”
