Border Czar Tom Homan delivered a fiery rebuke of sanctuary city Mayors defending policies that shield illegal immigrants from federal authorities, vowing immigration enforcement action despite local resistance.
At a Glance
- Tom Homan, former ICE Director and current Border Czar, confronted sanctuary city Mayors on Fox News after they testified before Congress
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sparked controversy by inviting Homan to testify “under oath” after he criticized her city’s policies
- Homan defended ICE operations that removed dangerous criminals from sanctuary cities, including gang members and child predators
- The debate highlights fundamental disagreements about whether sanctuary policies improve or harm public safety
- Homan promised continued enforcement actions in sanctuary cities despite local opposition
Sanctuary City Standoff Intensifies
The debate between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary cities has reached a boiling point as Border Czar Tom Homan appeared on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program to counter arguments from various sanctuary city Mayors who recently testified before Congress.
Mayors from Boston, Denver, New York City, and Chicago recently defended their sanctuary policies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. These policies typically restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, particularly regarding detention and notification about release dates of individuals in local custody.
Boston Mayor Challenges Border Czar
During the congressional hearing, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu directed sharp criticism at Homan, challenging his characterization of sanctuary cities as harbors for criminals. Wu defended her city’s policies and issued a direct challenge to the Border Czar to face questioning under oath.
“Shame on him for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner who has overseen the safest Boston’s been in anyone’s lifetime. Bring him here under oath, and let’s ask him some questions. I am here to make sure that the city of Boston is safe. Others may want to bring hell. We are here to bring peace to cities everywhere,” Wu said.
Homan, rather than being deterred by Wu’s criticism, expressed satisfaction at being a focus of her comments. He indicated that her attention confirmed he was effectively challenging what he considers dangerous sanctuary policies. On Ingraham’s program, Homan reiterated his commitment to enhancing public safety by targeting illegal immigrants involved in criminal activity.
ICE Operations in Sanctuary Cities
Homan took particular issue with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s assertion that deporting dangerous individuals makes cities more dangerous. The Border Czar countered by detailing specific ICE operations in Chicago that he claims enhanced public safety by removing criminal elements from the community.
“As far as Mayor of Chicago about we’re not making this community safer, I went up there and did a one day operation. We took seven TDA members off the street. We took two illegal aliens that were convicted of murder, that they released, took them off the street. We arrested six child predators, took them off the streets of Chicago. ICE is making every one of those cities safer,” Homan said.
Addressing Family Separation and Child Trafficking
During his appearance, the Border Czar also addressed criticism about family separation policies that occurred during previous immigration enforcement efforts. He provided context for these separations, explaining they resulted from prosecuting parents for illegal entry, a process that mirrors what happens to U.S. citizens who are prosecuted for crimes.
“Yes, we separated families because we prosecuted parents, and the children can’t go to jail with them. That happens to U.S. citizen parents hundreds of times across this country every day,” Homan stated.
He redirected attention to what he described as an overlooked humanitarian crisis – the trafficking of children across the border. According to his statements, hundreds of thousands of trafficked children remain unaccounted for, potentially trapped in sex trafficking and forced labor situations.
Rep. James Comer, who chaired the congressional hearing where the sanctuary city Mayors testified, emphasized the risks faced by ICE officers operating in non-cooperative jurisdictions. According to Comer, sanctuary policies create dangerous conditions for federal agents attempting to apprehend individuals in communities rather than in controlled environments like jails or detention facilities.
