A former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tom Homan, has weighed in on the ongoing immigration crisis at the southern border, asserting that a return to policies from the Trump presidency is the only solution.
Speaking on the Counter Culture Podcast with Dan Proft, Homan emphasized that the current crisis is a result of policy decisions, contrary to the narrative of resource limitations put forth by the current administration.
“Look, what’s happening on the border right now is not a resource issue; it’s a policy issue,” Tom Homan told Dan Proft on the Counter Culture Podcast. “If they would simply go back to the Trump policies that gave us the most secure border in our lifetime, we’d be there.”
“Mandate E-Verify, finish the wall, then we’ll talk about what you want to do as far as future immigration,” Homan added.
Homan’s tenure at the helm of ICE was marked by controversy and a departure from traditional approaches, as he oversaw immigration enforcement during the Trump administration.
Despite facing substantial criticism from liberal and immigration advocacy groups advocating for open border policies, Homan stood by his approach. He retired from public service after serving in this role for just 18 months.
Homan’s recent statement comes as the United States grapples with an unprecedented surge in immigration, with thousands of individuals crossing the southern border daily.
The crisis has impeded ICE’s ability to carry out its core functions, as agents are preoccupied with paperwork due to the Biden administration’s policies allowing immigrants to enter the U.S. on asylum claims, which could take years to be heard in court.
During the Trump administration, ICE implemented the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to stay outside of the U.S. until their claims could be processed. This policy resulted in a significant reduction in daily border crossings.
However, it was criticized by liberals as being racially biased and inhumane. President Joe Biden swiftly began unraveling Trump’s immigration policies upon taking office.
Since 2020, the U.S. has witnessed a substantial influx of immigrants, including many from impoverished Latin American countries. Notably, immigrant caravans now increasingly include asylum seekers from the Middle East and Asia.
Recent reports of a rising number of suspected terrorists detained at the border have raised concerns.
Some of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, such as the construction of a border wall to deter illegal crossings, were met with opposition from Democrats.
Biden halted the wall’s construction, and there were reports of materials being sold off at a fraction of their cost.
Even Democratic leaders in sanctuary cities have started raising concerns about the influx of immigrants into their jurisdictions without adequate funding to provide food and shelter.
Federal policies have restricted immigrants, including those with asylum claims, from being eligible to work, leading to increases in violent crime, property damage, and a potential rise in prostitution linked to international human trafficking.
