Border Czar Tom Homan Condemns “Sanctuary City Policies” Following Shooting of Off-Duty Agent in New York City
The shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent in Fort Washington Park, Manhattan, on Saturday night has intensified the national debate over immigration and “sanctuary city” policies.
Border Czar Tom Homan, speaking on Monday, visited the wounded officer and his family, expressing his outrage and vowing to prioritize enforcement actions in such jurisdictions.
“I visited the officer last night,” Homan stated. “He was heavily sedated, so I didn’t have words with him, but I did talk to his family. They’re devastated. It’s just a shock to the soul when you walk in and see that young man lying there.”
RELATED: DHS Secretary Noem Rips “Sanctuary City” Mayors After Off-Duty Border Patrol Agent Shot
Homan echoed sentiments from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, asserting, “Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals. Hard stop!”
He recounted his extensive experience in law enforcement, dating back to 1984, stating that he has “never seen a situation where I see it today.” He highlighted what he described as repeated attacks on NYPD officers and citizens by “illegal alien criminals” in New York City, now extending to a federal officer.
Homan slammed the New York City Council for allegedly blocking access to Rikers Island. “You got a city council here that locked us out of Rikers Island. Are you kidding me? So, an illegal alien in Rikers Island, we can’t talk to. We don’t have access to. That makes the city unsafe.”
Homan announced an aggressive shift in strategy, aligning with previous statements from President Trump and Secretary Noem.
READ: “Ridiculous!” DHS Secretary Noem Rages Against Judge’s California Immigration Order
“Sanctuary cities are now our priority. We’re gonna flood this town” he declared. He warned that if local authorities “don’t want to let us into jail to arrest a bad guy in the safety and security of a jail, you want to release him into the street, which makes it unsafe for the community,” then Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will increase its presence.
“We’ll have more agents in New York City to look for that bad guy, so Sanctuary cities get exactly what they don’t want: more agents in the community and more agents in the work site.” He added that if an arrest is made in the community, and the individual is with others who are in the country illegally, “they’re coming too.”
Addressing media narratives, Homan expressed frustration with what he termed misrepresentations of ICE’s work. “I’m sick and tired of reading in the media every day how ICE is not doing what the Trump Administration has promised,” he said.
He cited statistics, stating that out of 130,000 arrests, 90,000 were criminals. He explained that the remaining individuals include those with final deportation orders from federal judges and “National Security threats.”
READ: Border Czar Tom Homan Blasts Biden For ‘Losing’ 300K Migrant Kids, Ignoring Sex Trafficking Crisis
“About how most people in ICE detention aren’t criminals. How bad will criminals have to be?” Homan questioned, challenging a narrative that only murderers are deported. “Being in the country illegally is not illegal anymore? You got to be a convicted murderer to be deported?”
He reiterated that the majority of those in ICE detention have criminal histories or are subjects of final removal orders or expedited removal statutes.
Homan concluded by commending the work of ICE and Border Patrol agents, stating, “The finest men and women in this country who put their lives on the line every day for this country. I buried border patrol agents. I buried ICE agents. Thank God we’re not burying one today.”
He praised Secretary Noem’s leadership, emphasizing, “They’re finally doing a job that they took an oath to do, and they have great leadership with Secretary Noem. Enforce law without apology.”
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