In a recent interview on ABC News Live, Tom Homan, the White House border czar, issued a stern warning to Mexican cartels. He emphasized that President Donald Trump would not hesitate to use the U.S. military if American troops stationed at the southern border were targeted by these criminal organizations. Homan’s statement came in response to the escalating violence and record profits reported by the cartels.
Homan expressed confidence in the U.S. military’s ability to confront the cartels, highlighting the stark contrast with the Mexican military, which has previously engaged the criminal organizations. He emphasized that the United States military was a formidable force that the cartels would be “foolish” to take on. However, he also acknowledged the potential for violence to increase as the cartels sought to protect their lucrative operations.
President Trump’s aggressive stance on border security has been evident since his first day in office. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, granting the Department of Defense the authority to deploy armed forces in the region. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order designating drug cartels and criminal organizations as foreign terrorist entities, reflecting his administration’s hard-line stance on immigration and national security.
Under the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified its efforts to target undocumented migrants, prioritizing the apprehension of violent criminals. Homan revealed that a significant majority of the individuals arrested in ICE raids were criminals, comprising 76% of the total arrests. He explained that collateral arrests, involving individuals encountered while pursuing primary targets, were an inevitable consequence of enforcing immigration laws.
Despite the rigorous enforcement measures, Homan emphasized that there was no specific daily arrest quota for ICE officers. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to apprehending as many undocumented migrants as possible, while prioritizing individuals with criminal backgrounds. Homan’s approach underscored the administration’s unwavering dedication to upholding immigration laws and securing the nation’s borders.
Addressing concerns about the deportation of families to dangerous countries, Homan defended the administration’s actions by questioning the characterization of certain nations as unsafe. He challenged the notion that individuals from countries with travel warnings, such as Haiti and Venezuela, automatically qualified for asylum in the United States. Homan stressed the importance of differentiating between legitimate asylum claims and fraudulent attempts to exploit the system.
In his impassioned defense of the administration’s immigration policies, Homan urged individuals seeking asylum to follow legal procedures by presenting themselves at designated ports of entry. He emphasized that entering the country illegally was not a valid method of seeking asylum and could undermine the credibility of legitimate asylum-seekers waiting to be processed.
Homan’s remarks shed light on the complex challenges faced by U.S. authorities in managing immigration flows and combating criminal organizations along the southern border. As the debate over border security and immigration policies continues to unfold, the role of individuals like Tom Homan remains crucial in shaping the nation’s approach to these pressing issues.
