Trump’s administration kept their promises of mass deportations. But not all is going right.
Because the ICE raids have taken a strange turn and now Trump’s border czar is furious.
Tom Homan Warns of Legal Consequences for Leaks Impeding ICE Operations
On Thursday, former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan delivered a stern warning to those leaking information about ICE raids, asserting that they could soon “find themselves in handcuffs.” His comments, made during an interview with Fox News host Harris Faulkner, came amidst concerns over efforts to impede ICE operations aimed at apprehending illegal immigrants with criminal records.
Homan’s warning comes in the middle of the Trump admin’s effort to address illegal immigration, which has become a central issue during President Donald Trump’s second administration. Upon taking office in January, President Trump issued a series of executive orders designed to tackle illegal immigration. These included measures such as designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, and instituting policies to bolster border security. Among these policies were efforts to prioritize deportations of criminal illegal immigrants.
In his conversation with Faulkner, Homan was asked about the recent efforts to hinder ICE raids targeting illegal immigrants with criminal histories. He emphasized that ICE would no longer tolerate such interference, citing the dangerous nature of these operations.
“I’m working very closely, starting this morning, with the Department of Justice in where do they cross the line of impediment? So they may find themselves in a pair of handcuffs soon,” Homan said, referring to those leaking information about operations. “We’re not going to tolerate it anymore. This is not a game. When we show up at these sites, this is a dangerous job for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol and all the DOJ agencies.”
Homan also pointed out that such leaks not only jeopardize the safety of law enforcement officers but also put the individuals ICE is trying to apprehend at risk. He emphasized the need for operational security and swiftly addressed the leak.
“To have this type of interference puts our officers at great risk,” he explained. “Not only these officers, but it puts the aliens at great risk, ’cause anything can happen when we take our eyes off the goal here, so we’re addressing that immediately today. I’m addressing OPSEC today, operational security and how the leaks are happening. We’ve identified how this operation got leaked and I’ll deal with that today.”
The issue of leaks had already been raised earlier in the day by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who had covered an ICE operation in Aurora, Colorado. The operation was aimed at targeting members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which had reportedly taken over an apartment complex in the city. Despite targeting over 100 gang members, the raid only resulted in the arrest of one individual, as information about the operation had been leaked ahead of time. Media outlets ran stories revealing the planned raid, and protesters with bullhorns appeared to taunt the agents during the operation. Melugin noted that the raid was “compromised from the very beginning” due to the leaks.
Homan addressed the complications that such leaks introduce, explaining that controlling the narrative of operations is crucial. He acknowledged the need for transparency but stressed the importance of safeguarding law enforcement operations from outside interference.
“It’s all about controlling the message. I try to be transparent. I promised the American people that we would be transparent with operations, but it’s obvious we can’t be having all these different news outlets out there with us on various raids,” Homan said. “But the leak will be identified today, we’ll deal with that today. But it’s not a game. I want to put it out to [Democratic New Jersey] Governor Phil Murphy, the rest of the people who want to game this, it is not a joke. This is serious business and they need to stop or we’ll prosecute them through the Department of Justice.”
Homan’s remarks were partially aimed at Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, who had made headlines by publicly challenging ICE to arrest an illegal immigrant he claimed was living in an apartment above the garage of his home. Murphy’s comments had prompted Homan to caution him about the legal consequences of such behavior, suggesting that Murphy himself could face arrest or prosecution.
The issue of illegal immigration and enforcement has remained a flashpoint in U.S. politics, with President Trump vowing during his 2024 presidential campaign to carry out a large-scale deportation effort aimed at criminal illegal immigrants. Under Trump’s administration, ICE took action to arrest and deport hundreds of illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes, including terrorism, s*xual assault, and aggravated assault.
These efforts were part of a felt shift in immigration policy, which saw the reversal of policies put in place by President Joe Biden after his inauguration in 2021. Biden had signed executive orders that rolled back many of the immigration enforcement measures introduced during Trump’s first term, a move that was met with significant criticism from those advocating for stricter immigration controls.
The Trump administration has recently put so-called “Sanctuary cities” in their crosshairs, arguing that these often Democrat-controlled cities are only going to end up hurting Americans when they harbor illegal immigrants who the federal government is trying to deport. These can sometimes be illegal immigrants who are known violent criminals, according to border czar Tom Homan.
GIVE ME A 👍 IF YOU SUPPORT TOM HOMAN GOING AFTER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY! pic.twitter.com/nwOrdpCaKk
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