As nationwide protests escalate and turn violent against stepped-up immigration enforcement, “Border Czar” Tom Homan, appearing on Fox News’ The Big Weekend Show, delivered a forceful defense of ICE operations and a stark warning to protesters and critical politicians.
Homan’s comments underscore the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to its immigration crackdown, even in the face of widespread unrest.
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The growing volatility was evident outside a Home Depot, where clashes between protesters and police left ICE vehicles damaged and led to arrests for assault on a federal agent.
This incident was followed by a night of intense rioting in Los Angeles, which saw over 1,000 rioters besiege a federal law enforcement building, assaulting ICE officers, and vandalizing property. The Los Angeles Police Department’s two-hour response time to the incident further highlighted the severity of the unrest.
Homan addressed the chaos, asserting ICE’s continued resolve.
“Look, we’re gonna continue doing our job,” he declared, emphasizing that recent operations have been focused on executing criminal warrants. “They’re not going to shut us down. We’re out there right now. Doing operation. We’re going to keep doing operations. We brought in more resources to push back to protesters.”
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“You can protest all you want. You get hands on officers or destroy property, you will be prosecuted. There’s zero tolerance on crossing that line.” Homan also announced the possibility of deploying the National Guard to bolster enforcement efforts, signaling a further escalation of resources dedicated to quelling the protests.
The “Border Czar” also took aim at political figures who have voiced opposition to ICE, specifically referencing a Los Angeles city council member’s call for “mobilization against ICE.”
Homan confirmed that the Department of Justice, under US Attorney General Pam Bondi, is “looking at that,” hinting at potential legal repercussions for public officials perceived to be inciting violence or obstruction.
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Indeed, Attorney General Bondi released a statement Saturday affirming the DOJ’s commitment to prosecuting anyone, regardless of their position, who obstructs or assaults a law enforcement officer.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a judge, a member of Congress, or a protestor in Los Angeles,” said Bondi. ” If you obstruct or assault a law enforcement officer, this Department of Justice will prosecute you.”
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed this sentiment, directly accusing Democrat politicians, including Hakeem Jeffries, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, of “contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE.”
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem added Saturday, “A message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. @ICEgov will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
A particularly contentious point raised during Homan’s interview was the demand from some Democrats for ICE agents to unmask, with threats of doxing if they refuse.
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Homan vehemently defended the agents’ use of masks, citing a “413% increase in assaults against them” and alarming instances of ICE officers’ family members being doxed and targeted. “They’re wearing masks for one reason only: to protect themselves and their families,” Homan stated, highlighting the inherent dangers of their work.
Homan concluded with a grave warning about the escalating rhetoric, equating it to “feeding the hatred.” He expressed profound concern that the persistent vilification of ICE agents by public officials could ultimately lead to tragic consequences.
“It’s a matter of time before it takes a life or an ICE agent loses their life because her rhetoric is at an all-time high and is being fed by people who should be more responsible,” Homan cautioned, painting a grim picture of the potential fallout from the current political and social climate surrounding immigration enforcement.
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