Border911: How a Misinformation Network Cashes In on the False Invasion Story

Tom Homan, a retired federal employee and acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Trump administration, has been actively promoting his agenda across the U.S. for the past year. He leads a team of former law enforcement officers under the moniker Border911, visiting venues from Phoenix, Arizona, to Ronkonkoma, New York. Their message claims that the U.S.-Mexico border is facing an invasion, lobbying against President Joe Biden by alleging that his administration is allowing undocumented immigrants to gain power for Democrats.

As the head of the non-profit Border911 Foundation, Homan’s activities remain largely unreported outside right-wing media. Should Trump return to the presidency in November, Homan—who introduced Trump’s family separation policy—could regain significant influence. At a rally earlier this summer, Trump asserted that he would bring Homan back into government in 2025.

“If Trump returns in January, I’ll run the largest deportation force this country has ever seen,” Homan stated during a July panel in Washington, D.C., suggesting that the public should brace for unprecedented actions after a potential Trump victory.

Founded in October 2023 in Virginia, the Border911 Foundation’s mission is to “educate the American people about the facts of a non-secure border,” according to its IRS filings. However, Homan’s claims of a “border invasion” seem to facilitate an atmosphere of disinformation, potentially impacting the outcome of November’s elections should they not favor Trump.

Border911 is associated with The America Project, a 501(c)(4) group known for funding election conspiracy initiatives. While the latter can support political campaigns more directly, it is classified as dark money due to its lack of donor disclosure requirements. Homan has also launched another 501(c)(4) organization called Border911 Inc. in 2023.

The actions of Border911 and its affiliates have raised concerns about extremist rhetoric and legislative proposals, familiar to Trump’s most hardline immigration stances. In Arizona, the group has successfully introduced several bills, with Republican legislators pushing for a ballot initiative to formally declare a border invasion and empower local officials to enforce immigration laws.

Concerns also arise over the legality of Homan’s foundation. IRS regulations prohibit tax-exempt organizations from engaging in political campaigns, leading experts to question whether they are skirting federal tax law. Meanwhile, Border911 associates frequently present themselves as law enforcement experts in Congress while perpetuating disinformation related to the Biden administration’s border policies.

“The border is our theater of war,” Homan declared, referring to the gravity of their mission. The Border911 team includes prominent figures from various law enforcement backgrounds who advocate for the organization’s agenda publicly and through media platforms.

Despite Homan’s assertions of self-funding the Border911 Foundation, his affiliations with The America Project, which has ties to other controversial figures, raise red flags. During a pivotal meeting at the White House in December 2020, Homan was surrounded by advocates pushing for extreme measures to contest election results, an experience he later leveraged to establish Border911.

Homan’s recent nonprofit, while purporting to educate citizens, has drawn scrutiny from nonprofit experts. Concerns emphasize the unusual overlap in expenses between the two nonprofit entities he co-founded and potential violations concerning how funds may be utilized.

Those affiliated with Border911 also venture into lucrative territories, with individuals securing contracts related to border security. Members utilize their former positions to navigate lucrative opportunities while promoting their messaging across various platforms, often misrepresenting the threats posed at the border.

The group’s approach in battleground states encompasses town hall meetings designed to alarm local communities regarding border security failures, fostering further support for their legislation. Despite facing challenges from Democratic leaders, some Border911-backed bills have found their way to Arizona’s ballot, enhancing their influence at local levels.

As the election approaches, Homan continues to express confidence in Trump’s ability to reclaim the presidency, suggesting that his beliefs about upcoming events bolster their ongoing campaign efforts. With Border911’s potential ramifications still unfolding, the organization poses significant questions about accountability, misinformation, and the future of U.S. immigration policy should their objectives gain traction.

This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.