Thomas Douglas Homan began his career as a police officer in West Carthage, New York. In 1984, he joined the U.S. Border Patrol and served as a border patrol agent. He then began to work his way up through the ranks and served in various capacities, such as a special agent, supervisory special agent, and deputy assistant director. In 2013, President Obama appointed Homan as Immigration and Customs Enforcement's executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations. Mr. Homan received President Obama's Presidential Rank Award in 2015 due to his accomplishments in immigration enforcement. Five years later, in 2020, President Trump awarded Mr. Homan the National Security Medal.
On January 30, 2017, President Trump demoted Daniel Ragsdale, the acting Immigration and Customs Director, and then appointed Mr. Homan as acting director. Months later, in May of 2017, Homan announced that ICE had arrested 41,319 illegal immigrants between President Trump's Inauguration Day and the end of April. This was a 38% increase from the year before. Later that year, on November 14, 2017, President Trump nominated Mr. Homan to serve as ICE Director. During that time, he was one of the key people in President Trump's administration who helped create the "Zero Tolerance" policy. Mr. Homan remained in his position until he retired in the summer of 2018. After retiring, Mr. Homan worked as a contributor for Fox News, often discussing border security and immigration. Mr. Homan has also worked with the Heritage Foundation and is the president and CEO of Boarder911—a nonprofit organization focusing on border security issues.
In November 2024, President-Elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Thomas Homan would serve as the border czar during his second presidential term. Coming out of retirement, Mr. Homan will oversee the U.S. border control and manage deportations. President Trump stated on Truth Social, "I've known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic and long-awaited job."
Mr. Homan will replace the current border Czar, Vice President Kamala Harris. According to the Homeland Security website, under the Biden-Harris Administration, illegal border crossings skyrocketed to nearly 3 million in the 2024 Fiscal year. It is estimated that over 10.8 million illegal alien encounters have occurred since the fiscal year 2021.
During Biden's ongoing presidency, illegal immigrants have flooded communities across the U.S.—which became one of President-Elect Trump's key issues during his campaign. Trump called for mass deportation and the construction of the border wall, as well as reinstating executive orders from his previous term as president. Mr. Homan has expressed that Trump's Tough stance on the current border issue would mean the key priority would be the deportation of illegal immigrants who endanger the public and pose threats. Specifically the illegal immigrants that participate in drug and sex trafficking rings. By cracking down on this illegal behavior, deaths caused by overdoses and sex trafficking at the border will be reduced. One of Mr. Homan's roles as border czar also includes securing the northern and southern border of the U.S., which he has promised to do, as well as finishing the border wall, stopping unauthorized border crossings, and reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" policy for those who seek asylum. He has expressed that there will be a great effort to locate and rescue the hundreds of thousands of children that have gone missing due to the policies of the Biden-Harris administration.
Mr. Homan is determined to end the crisis at the American border as he has promised to lead the biggest mass deportation operation the U.S. has ever seen. Mr. Homan's firm stance on immigration was shaped by his experience working in ICE and his union with President-Elect Trump's immigration agenda. With that being said, he has expressed several times that he will get out the immigrants who came into our country illegally by using targeted approaches with those who pose a threat. Immigration will specifically target those who have criminal histories. He has promised to enforce immigration actions at workplaces, meaning employers that employ undocumented workers will be raided and held accountable. By taking such actions and serving as the border czar, Mr. Homan puts the safety and security of the American people first. He has been very vocal about his views on immigration and often makes headlines for his strong beliefs and stances on U.S. border enforcement. For example, when Mr. Homan appeared on 60 Minutes in October, he was asked how family deportations can occur without separation. Mr. Homan replied, "Families can be deported together."
Just days before President-Elect Trump announced Mr. Homan as border czar, he spoke to Fox News Digital about what mass deportations would look like. Mr. Homan told Fox, "It's not going to be a sweep of neighborhoods, it's not going to be massive raids. It's going to be a targeted enforcement operation." He then promised that those who threatened U.S. national security and public safety would be targeted first. He then warned the states and cities that had vowed to resist deportation efforts.
"We have a mandate. I think the American people just gave President Trump a mandate. That's why he's elected, to secure the border, save lives and deport people, especially national security threats and public safety threats. So if you're not going to help us, step aside, but don't get in our way because there will be consequences."
By giving this warning, he made it clear that sanctuary cities would not be tolerated. Mr. Homan has spoken openly of the harsh consequences for government employees who refuse and resist the enforcement of federal immigration.
