Trump Appoints Ex-ICE Chief as New Border Czar

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday the appointment of Tom Homan as “border czar” in his forthcoming administration. This move is aligned with Trump’s pledge to enforce mass deportations of immigrants lacking permanent legal status.

Homan, previously the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s last term, supported the contentious “zero tolerance” policy that led to the separation of families at the southern border. His role will encompass oversight of the southern and northern borders, maritime borders, and aviation security, although specifics regarding his formal title remain unclear.

Trump praised Homan, stating, “I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders.” He expressed confidence that Homan would perform exceptionally well in his responsibilities.

Also returning to the Trump administration is Stephen Miller, who will serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy. Vice president-elect J.D. Vance congratulated Miller on his new position via X, formerly Twitter.

As the administration gears up for mass deportations, Homan will spearhead efforts to return individuals to their countries of origin, contingent upon those nations agreeing to accept them. Homan emphasized the need for targeted operations, noting that ICE agents are well-prepared for these missions.

“It’s going to be a well-targeted, planned operation conducted by the men of ICE. The men and women of ICE do this daily. They’re good at it,” he remarked in a recent CBS News interview. He assured that deportations would be executed in a humane manner, focusing on known individuals and their probable locations.

In the U.S., over 14.4 million individuals belong to mixed-status families, where at least one member holds a different legal status. Homan asserted that families could be deported together, addressing concerns about the impact of mass deportations on family units.

The 2018 “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in the separation of at least 5,000 migrant families, remains a controversial aspect of immigration enforcement. To date, the Department of Homeland Security has managed to reunite approximately 74% of those affected, leaving 998 children still separated from their families.

Trump has not committed to avoiding family separations in future deportation efforts. Reflecting on the previous policy, he suggested that the fear of separation may deter families from attempting to enter the U.S. “Well, when you have that policy, people don’t come,” he acknowledged during a CNN town hall in May 2023.

Last updated 10:22 a.m., Nov. 11, 2024