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White House border czar Tom Homan said the Trump administration remains committed to mass deportations despite criticism from Democrats and some supporters of President Donald Trump over the pace and scope of immigration enforcement operations.
“We are after everyone, but again, you’ve got to prioritize those who are the biggest threats to our national security, public safety,” Homan told the Washington Examiner in an interview published Wednesday.
“Am I happy with the numbers right now? No, I want more, too. Even though numbers are historic, I want more.”
Homan said United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its federal partners have arrested approximately 641,000 criminal illegal immigrants during President Trump’s second term, while more than 800,000 people have been removed from the country overall.
“Total of 800,000 out of the country,” Homan said. “If you take 60% of that, criminals, hundreds of thousands of public safety threats, have been removed from this country. Name another president who’s done that.”
Homan acknowledged that immigration enforcement activity has slowed in recent months, blaming sanctuary city policies, court rulings and a 75-day shutdown at the United States Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.
“There’s a lot of argument within the world that [questions], ‘Are we keeping our promise?’” Homan said. “Numbers are slightly down, but there’s a plan: Get them back up and even higher.”
“I’ve never seen so many activist judges … which adds to the 12% decline in arrests,” he added.
Homan rejected criticism that ICE has focused too narrowly on criminal offenders instead of broader deportation operations. He argued that sanctuary city policies create greater risks for law enforcement officers and communities because ICE agents must conduct arrests in neighborhoods instead of within secure jail facilities.
The Department of Homeland Security said the arrests reflect the administration’s continued effort to intensify immigration enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records.
