Tom Homan says ICE runs 'targeted operations' under immigration laws 'with utmost professionalism'

WASHINGTON, DC: Border czar Tom Homan responded to a recent fatal shooting involving an ICE agent, addressing how Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates and follows federal law.

Homan took to X on Sunday, January 11, to respond to public concern over the incident during a federal immigration operation. He emphasized that ICE actions were targeted and carried out under long-standing immigration laws, not at the discretion of individual agents. 

Tom Homan says ICE follows decades-old immigration laws, not deportation decisions

Tom Homan shared a post explaining how federal immigration enforcement worked, stating that ICE conducted targeted operations under laws that had existed for decades.

“ICE conducts targeted operations to enforce federal immigration laws that have existed for decades, and they do it with the utmost professionalism,” Homan wrote.

He added that ICE agents did not decide who was deported. “They don’t choose who gets deported, the law and federal judges do. They didn’t pass the laws nor can they change them. If you don’t like the laws, take it up with Congress. That’s their constitutional duty… ours is enforcing them,” he said.

In addition to his post, Homan shared a video from the official US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facebook account.

Todd Lyons discusses ICE agent safety concerns in Newsmax interview

The video featured Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, speaking with Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt. During the interview, Lyons described concerns raised by ICE agents regarding their personal safety.

Lyons referenced New York Governor Kathy Hochul while recounting what an ICE agent told her. According to Lyons, the agent said he feared for his own safety and that of his family, but felt dismissed by political leaders.

“We have political officials that don’t actually pay attention to what they’re saying,” Lyons said. He added that agents were being accused of intimidation when they were expressing legitimate safety concerns.

Todd Lyons cites vehicle ramming incidents during ICE enforcement operations

Lyons said ICE agents had faced violent interference during enforcement actions, including incidents involving vehicles.

“We just had a ramming today down here in Virginia. There was one in New York while this other incident was going on,” Lyons said. He added that individuals threatening ICE agents, their families, or interfering with arrests should be held accountable.

Lyons said elected officials should clearly condemn actions that endangered law enforcement officers rather than minimizing them.

Kathy Hochul criticizes ICE mask policy following Minneapolis shooting

Kathy Hochul previously questioned an ICE agent in New York about wearing a mask and accused agents of “terrorizing people.” The comment resurfaced as she discussed the fatal shooting in Minneapolis that occurred during an ICE enforcement operation.

Speaking later on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Hochul said she had “tremendous respect” for law enforcement but recalled asking an officer at 26 Federal Plaza why he was wearing a mask, citing concerns about the appearance and impact of masked federal agents.

The remarks drew criticism from ICE supporters, who argued that agents wore masks to protect themselves and their families from harassment and threats.