(Scypre.com) – In a notable announcement on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump declared that Tom Homan, his former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), would be appointed to oversee border security in his forthcoming administration. Homan, an experienced former law enforcement official and ICE leader under Trump, will reportedly take on a crucial role in directing border security efforts as the administration prepares to confront immigration challenges.
Homan’s newly designated role as “border czar” will focus on the U.S. southern and northern borders, along with maritime and aviation security measures. Trump shared the appointment news on his social media platform, Truth Social, describing Homan as “the best” choice for the role. “There is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,” Trump wrote, emphasizing his confidence in Homan’s ability to tackle immigration concerns.
The scope of Homan’s position remains somewhat ambiguous. While his responsibilities will encompass significant areas of border security, the role will require extensive collaboration across multiple agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an area that may pose challenges due to the broad reach of DHS’s immigration and customs responsibilities. Typically, such appointments require Senate confirmation, but Homan’s role as “border czar” bypasses this requirement, allowing him to begin work immediately without a formal confirmation process.
Homan’s extensive background includes a decades-long career in law enforcement and a history of high-profile roles in immigration enforcement under six U.S. presidents. He served as the executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE during the Obama administration, a period marked by record levels of deportations. His assertive approach to immigration control aligns closely with Trump’s policies, and the two share a vision of fortified borders and rigorous enforcement.
The prospect of Homan’s return has generated significant interest and speculation. Over the summer, Trump mentioned plans to reinstate Homan in a key border enforcement role if he won reelection. At a National Conservatism Conference in July, Homan echoed this sentiment, warning undocumented immigrants to “wait till 2025” and adding, “If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” This remark foreshadowed the expansive deportation operations Homan says he aims to initiate under Trump’s leadership.
Homan’s position on immigration aligns with Trump’s hardline stance, demonstrated by his central role in the administration’s previous crackdown on undocumented immigrants. His time as ICE’s acting director from 2017 to 2018 saw heightened arrests of undocumented immigrants and an expansion of ICE operations. Homan frequently defended his agents’ work and voiced support for broader enforcement measures. “Taking the shackles off ICE” is how he described Trump’s authorization of a wider range of arrests.
Homan was also a key figure behind the controversial family separation policy, which divided immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border under the Trump administration’s 2018 “Zero Tolerance” policy. The policy faced widespread condemnation as it led to the separation of over 5,500 children from their families. Although Trump later signed an executive order halting family separations amid backlash, critics highlight the policy’s long-term impact, as some children have still not been reunited with their families.
The policy’s legacy remains a subject of contention, particularly as the Biden administration reversed family separations upon taking office. Homan’s continued support of strict enforcement, however, suggests he may not shy away from similarly assertive policies if reinstated. Following his departure from government, Homan joined the conservative Heritage Foundation, contributed to Project 2025—a proposal to reshape the federal government—and worked as a Fox News contributor, all roles that have kept him in close alignment with conservative immigration ideals.
In recent statements, Homan outlined some of his plans for enforcing immigration policies, suggesting a “well-targeted, planned operation” by ICE agents. He emphasized that operations would be conducted humanely, targeting individuals deemed threats to public safety and national security. Additionally, he expressed intentions to resume workplace enforcement, which involves monitoring employers to identify undocumented employees, a practice the Biden administration had curtailed. Speaking on Fox News, Homan hinted at the possible inclusion of U.S.-born children in deportation plans if their parents face removal.
His rhetoric at the Republican National Convention also included a bold message directed at Mexican cartels involved in fentanyl trafficking, calling for an aggressive approach to dismantle their operations. He warned the cartels, “He’s gonna wipe you off the face of the Earth,” referring to Trump’s promise to designate them as terrorist organizations. Notably, however, federal data indicates that the majority of fentanyl traffickers in the U.S. are citizens rather than foreign cartel affiliates.
The reappointment of Homan has spurred strong reactions across the political spectrum. While Trump’s stance on immigration remains popular with his base, immigration advocacy groups have expressed concerns and vowed to challenge forthcoming policies. Organizations are gearing up for potential legal battles, protest actions, and advocacy efforts to counter the anticipated shifts in immigration policy under Trump’s administration.
Economists and policy analysts have also raised alarms, noting the potential impact of lower immigration levels on the economy. Experts from the Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, and Niskanen Center warn that reduced immigration could stunt economic growth, as the U.S. workforce has historically depended on immigrant contributions. Lower net migration, or even a net-negative migration rate, could present challenges for economic stability.
Homan’s appointment is one of several strategic selections by Trump as he prepares for his new term. The president-elect recently named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, and offered New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a position that would require Senate confirmation. With the upcoming Republican-controlled Senate, Stefanik’s confirmation is all but assured.
As the administration sets its plans for immigration and border control into motion, the reemergence of Homan at the helm of border enforcement underscores the high priority Trump places on these issues. With promises of sweeping deportation operations and expanded enforcement tactics, the next four years could bring substantial changes to the U.S. immigration landscape.