Tom Homan, US President Donald Trump’s “border czar” and former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expressed frustration over the challenges ICE agents face in sanctuary cities due to immigrants being “well-educated” about their rights.
Speaking on American news network CNN, Homan complained that initiatives like Chicago’s “Know Your Rights” campaign hinder ICE’s ability to arrest undocumented immigrants.
“For instance, Chicago—very well-educated,“ Homan continued. ”They‘ve been educated on how to how to defy ICE, how to hide from ICE. I‘ve seen many pamphlets from many NGOs: ’Here‘s how you escape ICE from arresting you. Here‘s what you need to do.’”
“They call it ‘Know Your Rights.’ I call it ‘how to escape arrest,’” Homan added.
Despite these challenges, Homan remained resolute. “If we gotta play that cat and mouse game, that’s what we’re going to do ‘til every one of them’s gone,” he said.
Under Trump’s renewed immigration policies, ICE operations have ramped up in major cities, including Chicago, Miami, and Newark. According to NBC News, ICE has arrested over 4,800 individuals since Trump returned to office, with the administration promising even more aggressive measures in the coming weeks.
Concerns have been raised about ICE’s activities in sensitive locations such as schools, with Homan justifying such operations by citing public safety and national security threats. Critics argue that targeting educational institutions spreads fear among students and undermines trust in local communities.
In an appearance on Megyn Kelly’s YouTube show, Homan entertained the idea of offering financial incentives for immigrants to “self-deport.” Kelly suggested providing a financial payout to encourage voluntary departures, a proposal Homan said was under consideration but did not elaborate on.
The heightened deportation measures have sparked outrage, with celebrities like Selena Gomez publicly condemning the administration’s actions. Gomez, whose family has Mexican roots, posted an emotional message on Instagram, expressing sorrow for the affected families. Though the posts were later deleted, her words highlighted the human cost of the intensified ICE operations.
Homan dismissed criticisms, including from public figures, stating on Fox News: “If they don’t like it, they should go to Congress and change the law. We’re going to do this operation without apology.”
