Former border czar Tom Homan issued a strong warning during a national television appearance this week, saying that politically charged statements from members of Congress are putting the lives of immigration officers in jeopardy.
According to Breitbart, speaking on the July 18 broadcast of Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” Homan said inflammatory language from lawmakers has incited attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and facilities.
Homan, who previously served under the Trump administration as border czar, joined host Cheryl Casone on Friday morning to discuss the increasing threats directed at ICE agents. Casone opened the segment by pointing to the danger Homan himself faces, including credible death threats, prompting him to take extreme personal safety measures.
Responding to her, Homan explained that his concerns go beyond his safety. While he accepted personal risk as a public figure, he said most ICE agents on the ground face similar dangers, without the same high-level security resources that he has access to.
Former Border Czar Details Personal Safety Measures
During the segment, Homan disclosed that he has installed extensive video surveillance systems at his properties. One house is outfitted with nine cameras, and another has eleven, he said. He cited a barrage of threats as the reason for these precautions. “I expect that kind of danger because I’ve held a visible leadership role,” Homan remarked. “But the real concern is for the men and women working in ICE operations, especially during overnight hours when they are least protected.”
He stated that ICE agents often operate in the early morning hours, focusing efforts on detaining individuals considered threats to public and national security. Homan suggested that these efforts are being overlooked in public discourse, replaced instead with unfounded criticism of their mission.
Violence Linked to Political Rhetoric, Homan Claims
During the interview, Homan attributed a recent increase in violence toward immigration officers to the statements made by some Democratic lawmakers. He asserted that continued comparisons of ICE to terrorist organizations or authoritarian regimes have fueled these actions. He said he had previously warned that such strong language could result in tragic consequences. “I said two months ago, if this rhetoric continues, there will be bloodshed,” he told Casone. “Unfortunately, I was right.”
To support this claim, Homan recounted two recent incidents. One involved a man who was fatally shot while reportedly trying to attack a Border Patrol facility in Texas. In a separate episode within the same week, ICE agents in Eldorado, Texas, were reportedly the targets of an attempted ambush.
Call for Changes to the Law Rather than Criticism
Homan defended the role of ICE, stating that agents are tasked with executing policies written and approved by Congress itself. He emphasized that deportation and arrest procedures carried out by ICE are the result of federal immigration judges' orders and not personal decisions made by field agents. He asserted that if lawmakers have concerns about how immigration laws are enforced, the solution is not public condemnation but legislative change. “If Congress doesn’t like what ICE is doing, then change the law,” he said. “They’re not making it up.”
The former border czar argued that ICE agents are acting in the service of American national interests. He maintained that their work helps protect communities, remove individuals identified as threats, and keep the legal immigration system intact.
Homan Critiques Shifting Narrative on Immigration
In the interview, Homan expressed concern over what he described as a cultural shift in how immigration enforcement is perceived. He believes law enforcement officers are being vilified while those violating immigration laws are being portrayed as victims.
“We’re at a point now with those who enforce the law, the bad guys, and those who broke the law, the victims,” Homan remarked. “That’s dangerous thinking, especially when it results in action against those who wear the badge.” Casone acknowledged this shift, referring to Homan’s personal experiences as an example of how threats and harassment have moved beyond rhetoric and into real-world dangers. Homan noted that continued escalation could intensify risks for ICE employees nationwide.
Security Concerns are Mounting as Tensions Grow
Homan’s remarks came amid growing concern within federal law enforcement communities over the safety of agents handling immigration cases. Reports of threats, both online and offline, have increased in recent years. He emphasized that immigration officers do not have the luxury of political debate in the field. Their focus, he said, lies solely in upholding their responsibilities under the law and subjecting their actions to judicial oversight.
“The people ICE is arresting—these are not random individuals,” he said. “They are individuals a judge has already ordered to be removed. ICE is simply fulfilling its role in that legal process.”
