Homan says mass deportation will happen, but current focus is on arresting 'public safety threats'

WASHINGTON, DC: "Border czar" Tom Homan reaffirmed the Trump administration’s plans for large‑scale deportations. He said his team will focus first on arresting criminals and threats to public safety while making clear that no undocumented immigrants will be exempt from enforcement. 

Homan also addressed recent speculation about a pullback in policy after his deployment to Minneapolis, Minnesota, insisting the federal government is sticking to its strategy even as it shifts tactics on the ground.

Tom Homan denies Trump is backing off from mass deportations

When Tom Homan appeared for the first time on Fox News’ Sean Hannity show since being sent to Minneapolis, he dismissed claims that President Donald Trump was backing off his promise of mass deportations, calling them “untrue.”

He added, "When President Trump took the Oval Office, we're going to have a mass deportation but we're going to prioritize the arrest of criminals and Public Safety threats."

Homan also shared the instructions he received from Trump: "I’ve said from Day 1 if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table."

He highlighted his own experience in immigration enforcement, saying, "I’ve been in DC about 15, 16 years. I've overseen more deportations than any other man since the Eisenhower administration."

He concluded by stressing the seriousness of their efforts, "So, if anybody thinks that Tom Homan and President Trump isn't serious about immigration enforcement and having a mass deportation, then they weren't paying attention to the press conference prioritization a smart law enforcement. But if you're in the country illegally you're not off the table, and we will find you to deport you too."

Trump replaces Greg Bovino with Tom Homan

Donald Trump sent Tom Homan to Minneapolis this week to replace Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, saying Bovino did not perform effectively while overseeing the state’s immigration crackdown.

“Bovino is very good, but he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy,” Trump told Fox News’ Will Cain. “And in some cases, that’s good. Maybe it wasn’t good here.”

Trump also praised Homan’s leadership style, saying, “Tom is fantastic. Tom is a tough guy, but I’ve watched over the years, and he’s gotten along with governors, and he gets along with mayors.” He added, “Some people don’t. Some people just want to do their job and leave me alone.”

Tom Homan says Minnesota leaders agreed to allow ICE arrests inside jails

Appearing on 'Hannity', Homan also described a “productive” meeting he held on Tuesday, January 27, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. He said both leaders agreed to honor federal immigration detainers within Minnesota’s prison system, allowing officers to make arrests inside jails instead of tracking suspects in neighborhoods.

“The more agents we have in the jails, the rest of these people in the safety and security of a jail, it's safer for the officer, safer for the alien, safer for the community,” Homan said.

Federal agents operating in neighborhoods have fueled widespread unrest in Minnesota, as members of the public protest their presence. Homan argued that jail-based arrests reduce those risks.

“One agent can arrest a bad guy in a jail rather than sending a whole team to the community,” he said. “And with all the hate and rhetoric attacks, then we’ve got to send another team for security.”

“What one agent can do in a jail, we got to send 15 or 16 guys to do,” he added.

Homan said cooperation from Walz and Frey could allow federal authorities to scale back their presence in the state. “We can draw down on the number of agents there, because we’re in the jails,” he remarked.