Tom Homan, the border czar for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), made a bold declaration during a recent appearance on Fox Business, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to ramping up immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities, including Portland, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
During the interview, Homan voiced his support for ICE agents in the face of what he described as derogatory comparisons to Nazis and terrorists, stating that such rhetoric could lead to severe consequences.
He stressed that the immigration enforcement efforts will remain steadfast as they strive to make the country safer.
Homan pointed out that certain Republican-led states, such as Florida, are cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, which allows ICE to allocate more resources to cities that resist these efforts.
The Fox Business host suggested that mayors in sanctuary cities are contributing to unrest, citing recent protests outside the Portland ICE office, where over twenty arrests have occurred since early June.
In response, Homan asserted that federal authorities are committed to fulfilling the mandates of President Trump, particularly the objective of mass deportations.
“I’m going to Portland,” Homan declared. “They are not going to bully us … we’re going to do the job. We’re doing it in Portland too.”
He emphasized that President Trump made it unequivocally clear two weeks ago that ICE will be doubling and tripling down on enforcement in sanctuary cities.
This statement marks Homan’s repeated commitment to intensifying enforcement despite pushback from local officials.
Recent statistics suggest a significant increase in immigration arrests across various states, fueling protests nationwide.
Just last month, President Trump deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles to manage protests, despite resistance from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Los Angeles has emerged as a focal point for immigration actions, with an ICE and National Guard convoy recently descending upon a city park.
Mayor Karen Bass attempted to de-escalate tensions by contacting the operation’s commander asking them to vacate the area.
Similar large-scale protests have also erupted in New York City and Chicago in recent weeks, objecting to immigration arrests.
Homan noted that Florida sheriffs are cooperating with federal efforts by not releasing individuals deemed as public safety threats.
This collaboration, he explained, allows for better resource allocation, letting federal agents focus on cities like New York, Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles.
“We’re going to double down and triple down on … sanctuary cities,” Homan stated, reinforcing his intent to bolster operations.
In Oregon, in particular, immigration arrests have reportedly quadrupled.
Federal agents have conducted detentions near local job sites, such as construction areas and vineyards, as well as at federal courthouses following immigration hearings.
Homan indicated that if ICE cannot detain individuals in local jails due to sanctuary laws, they will increase efforts to conduct community-based enforcement.
This shift in policy is aimed at not only targeting specific individuals but also apprehending anyone present in the country without legal status.
“So, what you’re going to get, sanctuary cities, is exactly what you don’t want,” Homan warned.
He predicted that increased ICE presence will lead to collateral arrests in communities across the nation.
The emphasis on enforcement signals a robust approach to immigration policy—one that aims to dramatically alter the landscape in areas resistant to cooperation.
image source from：oregonlive
