Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan made it clear at a Chicago event that President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation program would be aimed at the city. Homan, a vocal critic of sanctuary cities, called on Illinois Democrats to negotiate with the incoming administration or face prosecution.
The event was a Christmas party hosted by the Law & Order PAC and the Northwest Side GOP in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood. Tickets started at $125. As Homan took the stage to a remix of George Thorogood & The Destroyers’ “Bad to the Bone”, a crowd of local Republicans and a small number of Democratic officials listened attentively.
Raw in his criticism, Homan directed his attention to local leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, over their refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Homan boldly declared, to applause from the audience. He expressed his expectation that this would not be taken well by the city’s residents.
As an immigration enforcement veteran, Homan worked as a Border Patrol agent, investigator and supervisor under the Immigration and Naturalization Service before being appointed executive associate director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by former President Barack Obama. He later went on to serve as acting ICE director under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2018. Now, he believes that under Trump’s second term, Chicago will see an increase in federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The Trump administration plans to prioritize deportations of undocumented individuals with criminal records, but will eventually extend it to others. Homan wants to challenge Illinois’ sanctuary laws, including the Illinois Trust Act and Chicago’s “welcoming city” ordinance, which prevent local authorities from working with federal immigration agents.
In response to questions about coordination with law enforcement, Homan seemed to sidestep the topic, instead focusing on repeating his intent to enforce federal immigration laws. Despite his position being in the midst of controversy, Homan argued that the vast majority of asylum seekers do not qualify for asylum under U.S. law, and that most are in the U.S. for job opportunities rather than fleeing persecution.
Homan made it clear that mass deportations will be a targeted operation rather than a sweep. However, this did little to alleviate concerns, given Trump’s previous policies and decisions on separating families. When asked if undocumented parents of U.S. citizens could expect to be separated, Homan bluntly stated “it’s on you”.
Homan also acknowledged that federal officials have extensive knowledge about undocumented individuals and have the resources to target those they believe are at the top of their list. “We know exactly who we’re going to arrest. We know most likely where we’re going to find them,” he said.
In response to Homan’s comments, Governor Pritzker’s office aimed to put the matter to rest. Rather than being threatened by Trump’s latest threats, they were preparing for the backlash that may happen.
