Trump announces Tom Homan, his former acting ICE director, will be administration’s ‘border czar’

On Sunday evening, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will be appointed to lead the nation’s border security efforts in his administration. Trump praised Homan as “the best at policing and controlling our borders” in a Truth Social post, revealing that Homan would serve as the administration’s “border czar” with responsibility for securing the Southern Border, Northern Border, maritime borders, and aviation security.

Trump emphasized that Homan’s role would include overseeing deportations of undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin. Homan’s appointment marks a continuation of the hardline immigration policies that were central to Trump’s 2024 campaign, where he has pledged to deport millions of undocumented individuals.

Homan, a long-time career law enforcement officer, was a key figure in Trump’s first term, serving as the face of the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement. He was appointed acting ICE director in 2017 and served until his retirement in 2018. During his tenure, Homan was known for his outspoken support of stricter immigration measures, including increased deportations and opposition to “sanctuary cities,” which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Earlier this year, Homan was also involved in Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint aimed at shaping the next Republican president’s approach to government. Although Trump distanced himself from the project during his campaign, Homan’s role in it signals his continued influence within the GOP.

In a recent interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Homan addressed Trump’s promise of mass deportations, clarifying that the plan would not involve indiscriminate sweeps of neighborhoods. He stated that deportations would be targeted, focusing on individuals with criminal backgrounds or immigration violations, although the specifics of how the policy would be implemented remain unclear. Homan also rejected comparisons to “concentration camps,” stating that the idea was “ridiculous” and that the plan would be carried out in an orderly and strategic way.

Homan’s public profile has remained prominent since his retirement, particularly during the 2020 Republican National Convention, where he delivered a fiery speech warning undocumented immigrants that they “better start packing now.” His remarks were aimed at criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of immigration and its policies on releasing detained migrants into the U.S.

Homan’s approach to immigration enforcement was controversial, particularly his stance on the treatment of undocumented immigrants and immigrant children. Under his leadership at ICE, the agency saw an unprecedented number of immigrant children placed in U.S. custody. In 2017, Homan made headlines for advocating the arrest of undocumented individuals who came forward to care for their children, a practice that had been avoided by previous administrations. He argued that undocumented parents should face legal consequences for seeking to protect their children, declaring that it was not “cruel” to put them in deportation proceedings.

Critics of Homan’s policies have long accused him of prioritizing punitive measures over humane treatment of migrants. He often defended ICE’s tactics, arguing that law enforcement had a duty to uphold the law, regardless of the impact on families. This stance has made him a polarizing figure, admired by conservative immigration advocates but condemned by those who view his approach as too harsh.

As Trump’s new “border czar,” Homan will be tasked with advancing the administration’s immigration goals, which include securing the U.S. borders and enforcing stricter deportation policies. However, the exact details of his strategy, including the cost and scale of the proposed deportations, remain uncertain. While Homan has been a vocal advocate for tough immigration policies, it remains to be seen how these plans will be implemented and how they will resonate with the broader public.

This development adds to the ongoing national debate over immigration policy, as the U.S. grapples with complex issues surrounding border security, undocumented immigration, and the treatment of migrants. Homan’s appointment is likely to fuel further discussion about the future direction of immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly as Trump prepares for his return to office.