President-elect Donald Trump’s designated “border czar,” Tom Homan, has indicated that the upcoming administration intends to remove the restrictions placed on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the inauguration next week. Homan expressed that ICE will be empowered to carry out its duties without hindrance. During an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Homan emphasized, “ICE is finally going to go out and do their job. We’re going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens. That’s what’s going to happen.”
Homan criticized the previous four years under President Joe Biden’s administration, highlighting the constraints imposed on ICE’s operations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He noted that ICE was restricted in taking action as per Mayorkas’ directives. Homan stated, “Secretary of Homeland Security has told ICE that you can’t arrest an illegal alien if he’s just here illegally. He’s got to be convicted of a serious crime or be a national security threat. He told immigration officers not to enforce immigration law. Well, we’re telling ICE you’re going to enforce immigration law without apology.”
Reports suggest that ICE will initiate its first action under the incoming administration on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal disclosed that Trump’s team plans to conduct an immigration raid in Chicago, beginning Tuesday morning, with around 100 to 200 officers participating in the operation throughout the week. Homan further revealed, “There going to be big raids all across the country. Chicago is just one in many places. If we got 24 field offices across the country on Tuesday, you can expect ICE.”
Homan’s relationship with Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has been fraught, with Homan publicly criticizing both Johnson and the state’s Governor J.B. Pritzker last month. At the Northwest Side GOP holiday party, Homan did not mince words, stating, “Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” while cautioning that he would pursue legal action against Johnson if he obstructs ICE’s operations.
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