President-elect Donald Trump has selected Tom Homan, his former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to be the new administration’s “border czar.”
This role, which does not need Senate confirmation, puts Homan in charge of the country’s borders, as well as maritime and aviation security.
“I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,” said the president-elect, expressing confidence in Homan’s ability to do a “fantastic, and long-awaited for, job.”
Here are some key details about the former immigration official.
A Career in Law Enforcement
Originally from West Carthage, New York, Homan earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute in Marcy.
He began his law enforcement career as a police officer in New York before transitioning to immigration enforcement. Homan worked for 33 years in this field, starting as a Border Patrol agent in Campo, California, in 1984.
He later spent two decades as a special agent investigating organizations that smuggle immigrants into the U.S. under the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Homan then moved up the ranks of ICE to lead the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations under President Barack Obama for eight years before becoming acting ICE director under Trump.
ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for addressing cross-border crime, human trafficking, deportations, and more.
Within ICE, there are two main branches: Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Out of Retirement
Homan’s tenure as acting ICE director began on January 30, 2017, following the departure of former director Sarah Saldaña.
Just three days before, Homan had retired from the agency but was asked by Trump to lead ICE as he was leaving his retirement party.
He decided to come out of retirement to take on the role.
A ‘Long-Awaited for’ Job
In November 2017, Trump nominated Homan to permanently lead ICE, but the acting chief retired in June 2018 before his Senate confirmation hearing could take place.
“The decision to leave federal service after more than 34 years is bittersweet, but my family has sacrificed a lot in order for me to serve, and it’s time for me to focus on them,” Homan stated at the time.
“Tom Homan’s coming back,” Trump mentioned in a June 2019 interview on “Fox and Friends,” adding that Homan would be closely involved with border issues.
Homan’s role would involve reporting directly to the president and spending significant time at the border.
However, Homan ultimately did not return to the administration. Instead, he became a Fox News contributor and a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation. In 2021, he established his consulting company and leads Border911, a nonprofit focused on educating the public about border security.
Scenes From the Job
Homan has often been labeled as “heartless,” a characterization he disputes.
During a 2017 event, Homan became emotional as he discussed his experiences in immigration enforcement, including a tragic case in Victoria, Texas, where 19 smuggled immigrants died in a tractor-trailer.
He shared the haunting details of the scene and emphasized the human toll of smuggling operations.
“Homan expressed his concern about the disregard for the health, safety, and well-being of these individuals. He recounted his experience rescuing hostages in Phoenix, Arizona, where women were raped and children were molested. Homan’s tenure as acting ICE Director was marked by controversy surrounding the administration’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal immigration. This policy resulted in the separation of children from adult border crossers, sparking criticism and calls to abolish or defund ICE. Homan defended the policy, pointing out the need to protect child trafficking victims and enforce the law. He also voiced his opposition to sanctuary cities, which he believes endanger communities and hinder law enforcement efforts. Despite facing accusations of racism and criticism from politicians, Homan remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and deporting criminal aliens. He has pledged to increase deportations under the Biden administration’s policies, citing concerns about border security.”
So I am going to go back and do what I can to fix it.”
As for what “fixing it” will look like, Homan said immigration enforcement will be “the same as it was during the first administration,” but with “a [expletive] of a lot more” deportations because of the spike in the number of illegal immigrants present in the country.
He said removing those who pose a public safety or national security threat will be the administration’s top priority “because they have to be. They pose the most danger to this country.”
Awarded for Leadership
In 2015, under the Obama administration, Homan received the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service for his “decisive and sound executive leadership” as the executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
The award is the nation’s highest civil service award.
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation also named Homan its National Law Enforcement Leader of the Year in 2018.
Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
Please rewrite the sentence for me. Please rewrite this sentence.
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