Border Czar Tom Homan addressed reporters outside the White House on Monday, outlining a hardline shift in immigration enforcement and predicting a significant rise in deportations across the country. Homan declared that the U.S. has established the most secure border in its history, signaling a definitive halt to the practice of releasing detained individuals into the interior of the country while they await immigration hearings.
“There’s no free ride anymore,” Homan stated during the brief press availability. “So if it comes to the border, you’re not going to be released into the United States. It’ll be removed or put in detention and have your case heard, but there’s no more catch and release.”
Homan added that the previous administration’s policies sent a message to the world that entering the country unlawfully carried no consequences, a situation he said has now been corrected.
When asked about the timeline for individuals currently held in immigration facilities, Homan defended the efficiency of the current system. He stated that the average length of detention is currently 42 days, a metric he monitors closely.
To keep cases moving, the administration is actively hiring more immigration judges. According to Homan, individuals who are kept in detention receive a legal hearing within that 42-day window, whereas those who are released can wait anywhere from five to seven years for a court date. He emphasized that building up detention infrastructure is necessary to ensure faster legal resolutions.
“The average length in detention right now is what, 42 days? I look at that number everywhere… That’s why it’s important we build a detention infrastructure that can hold as many people as possible to get the hearings more quicker,” said Homan.
The funding for this infrastructure expansion and increased enforcement is tied to a new reconciliation package. Homan noted that deportation flights are already at a regular high, and he expects enforcement numbers to trend much higher through the remainder of the year. He cited data showing nearly 700,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records currently residing in the U.S., attributing their presence to sanctuary cities that refuse to release them to federal authorities. With additional resources from the new spending bill, Homan promised an increase in nationwide arrest and removal operations.
Reporters also questioned Homan about broader national security matters, including an alleged plot targeting a recent UFC event and potential threats to large public gatherings as Independence Day approaches.
Homan declined to discuss specific details regarding any ongoing investigations or active plots. However, he acknowledged the daily pressures of the role, stating that he is constantly concerned for the safety of the President and the personnel of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He criticized opposition politicians who have compared ICE agents to historic secret police forces, calling the rhetoric unfair.
Before wrapping up the media session, Homan addressed the legal future of birthright citizenship, calling it the main driver of illegal immigration. While noting that he is not a lawyer or a constitutional scholar, Homan expressed hope that the Supreme Court would rule in a way that aligns with his perspective. He declined to comment on an alternative strategy should the high court rule otherwise.
READ: Trump Heading For Supreme Court Defeat On Birthright Citizenship, Top Legal Experts Predict
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