The new Trump administration is almost here. But no one expected this.
Even Donald Trump’s mind was blown by what his border czar just said on camera.
Trump’s Incoming Border Czar Vows to Push Forward with Deportations, No Matter the Obstacles
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, his incoming border czar, Tom Homan, is making it clear that the new administration will not be deterred in its mission to enforce a tough immigration policy. Despite challenges from foreign countries that may refuse to take back illegal immigrants and resistance from local Democratic leaders in sanctuary cities, Homan is adamant that deportations will proceed as planned, and foreign home countries’ refusals will not slow the process.
Throughout his campaign, Trump emphasized his intent to enforce a stringent immigration policy, with a particular focus on curbing illegal immigration through the southern border. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. has seen a surge in border encounters, with record numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country. Trump vowed that his second administration would tackle this issue head-on, promising one of the largest deportation operations in U.S. history.
In a recent interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Homan addressed questions about how the administration would handle countries that refuse to accept deported migrants. Host Margaret Brennan asked how Trump’s team planned to follow through with deportations, especially if countries like Venezuela continue to deny repatriation requests.
Homan’s Confidence in Trump’s Leadership
Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Trump’s first term, pointed to the former president’s successful track record in handling foreign governments’ reluctance to cooperate on immigration issues. He cited the example of El Salvador, which initially refused to take back members of the violent gang MS-13. However, Homan noted, President Trump was able to leverage diplomatic pressure to secure the return of these criminal aliens to their home country in just 48 hours.
“Well, first of all, we have President Trump coming in the Oval Office and he’s proven during his first administration. His leadership on illegal immigration was the game-changer, because for instance, El Salvador wouldn’t take back MS-13 members when I was the ICE director,” Homan said. “It took President Trump 48 hours to get El Salvador to take back their criminal aliens into their prisons.”
Homan also pointed to other examples of Trump’s successful diplomacy, such as getting Mexico to agree to the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting U.S. court hearings. Under Trump’s leadership, Mexico also deployed military personnel along its southern and northern borders to curb illegal crossings.
“Mexico didn’t want to do the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program, but President Trump was able to get ‘Remain in Mexico’ established in Mexico. He was able to get Mexico [to] put military in the southern and northern border. President Trump’s a strong president,” Homan emphasized.
In the face of foreign governments that may not cooperate with deportations, Homan stressed that Trump’s administration will not hesitate to find alternative solutions. He pointed specifically to Venezuela, whose government under President Nicolás Maduro has historically rejected U.S. deportation efforts. This became a key issue in 2024 when Maduro refused to accept deportation flights for Venezuelan nationals, halting President Biden’s plan to send some Venezuelans back to their home country.
Homan made it clear that, if negotiations with Venezuela fail, illegal immigrants will not remain in the U.S. “We’re hoping that President Trump will work with Venezuela like he did with Mexico and El Salvador and get these countries to take them back,” he said. “If they don’t, they’re still gonna be deported, they’re just gonna be deported to a different country.”
Homan added that the new administration would prioritize public safety above all else. “We’re not gonna be held up on removing public safety threats in this country. We have to put the safety of the American people first,” he said. He also emphasized the dangers posed by criminal organizations such as Venezuelan gangs, which have been responsible for horrific violence, including the m*rders and r*pes of young women. “We’ve had too many young women m*rdered and r*ped and burned alive by members of Venezuelan gangs. They need to be a priority under this administration.”
Pushback from Sanctuary Cities
In addition to international resistance, the Trump administration is also facing pushback from local leaders, particularly in sanctuary cities. Several Democratic mayors, including Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Regina Romero of Tucson, and Mike Johnston of Denver, have vowed not to cooperate with ICE or Homan’s team in carrying out deportations within their cities. Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, often citing concerns about racial profiling and community trust.
Homan, however, warned these mayors and other officials that their attempts to block deportations would be unsuccessful and could result in legal consequences. “These efforts are going to fail. You can’t stop deportations,” Homan stated. “There are going to be consequences for those who violate the law and try to prevent us from doing our job.” Homan’s comments truly go to show the Trump administration’s determination to crack down on illegal immigration and prioritize national security. With a focus on deporting individuals who pose a public safety threat, including violent criminals and gang members, Homan emphasized that this issue would be a top priority from day one of Trump’s second term.
As the U.S. prepares for a new chapter in its immigration policy, Homan’s assurances suggest that the incoming administration will continue to pursue aggressive measures to secure the southern border and deport illegal immigrants, even in the face of opposition from foreign governments and local leaders. The Trump team is determined to follow through on its promises to protect American communities and ensure that immigration laws are enforced to the fullest extent.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
