November 11, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday that former ICE director Tom Homan will be appointed as his administration’s new “border czar.” The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, signals the President-elect’s commitment to a hard-line immigration strategy as he prepares for his second term in office.
“I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our borders,” Trump posted. “Tom Homan will be in charge of all deportation of illegal aliens back to their country of origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long-awaited job.”
Trump emphasized that Homan’s new role will extend beyond the southern border with Mexico. “The border czar position isn’t just for monitoring the U.S. southern border, but also the northern border, all maritime, and aviation security,” Trump added.
Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term, has remained a staunch advocate for strict immigration policies. He frequently criticized the Biden administration’s approach to immigration, describing it as ineffective amid a record number of illegal border crossings. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 3 million border crossings were recorded in the fiscal year 2024, bringing the total since 2021 to over 10.8 million.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Homan outlined his vision for his role as border czar, promising a “well-targeted, planned operation” and adding that deportations would be conducted in a “humane” manner. “The men and women of ICE do this daily. They’re good at it,” Homan said, affirming his commitment to a strict, systematic approach to border enforcement.
Border security has been a cornerstone of Trump’s political platform since his first run for office, and he continued to make it a focus in his 2024 campaign, highlighting concerns about illegal immigration’s effects on crime, smuggling, and drug trafficking. In campaign speeches, Trump often characterized illegal immigrants as contributing to crime and trafficking, using charged language such as “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Trump’s selection of Homan comes shortly after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who had been dubbed the Biden administration’s “border czar” during her tenure. Homan’s appointment reflects a return to Trump’s initial immigration policies, promising an overhaul of border security practices, which were more lenient under Biden. National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd said last week that Trump’s return to office will “end the status quo” at the southern border.
Homan’s appointment marks one of the first positions Trump has filled as he builds his incoming administration. He has also announced Susie Wiles, his co-campaign manager, as White House Chief of Staff, hinting at the formation of a team largely aligned with his long-standing policy positions on immigration and border security.
Sources:
- Truth Social. (2024). “President-elect Donald Trump announces Tom Homan as border czar.”
- Fox News. (2024). “Homan comments on deportation plan as Trump’s border czar.”
- Department of Homeland Security. (2024). “FY 2024 border crossing statistics.”
