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Trump administration border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday he has invited Pope Leo XIV to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on a ride-along, responding to a public disagreement over U.S. immigration policy.
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Baylor University, Homan said he wants the Chicago-born pontiff to observe enforcement operations firsthand.
“Yes,” Homan said when asked about the invitation. “I will sit down and talk to him… because they’re talking about something that they don’t understand.”
Homan defended the administration’s immigration crackdown, arguing that stricter border policies reduce human trafficking and other dangers.
“The most humane thing you can do is secure the border,” he said, while crediting President Donald Trump with sharply reducing illegal immigration.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show encounters at the southwest border remain significantly below levels seen in previous years, though there was a slight increase in March compared to February.
The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the White House and the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV has criticized harsh treatment of migrants, while also acknowledging that nations have a right to enforce their borders.
“I personally believe that a state has the right to impose rules for its frontiers,” Leo said, adding that migrants should still be treated with dignity.
The pope has sought to ease tensions, saying he is not interested in a direct confrontation with the president. Vice President JD Vance welcomed those remarks, saying he appreciated efforts to lower the temperature.
“While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict — and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen — the reality is often much more complicated,” Vance posted on X.
“Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President — and the entire administration — work to apply those moral principles in a messy world,” he added.
The Vatican has indicated Leo does not plan to visit the United States in 2026, making any potential ride-along unlikely in the near term.