Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan says death threats against his family have surged
WASHINGTON, DC: Trump administration "border czar" Tom Homan has said death threats against his family have sharply increased, claiming heated anti-ICE rhetoric has fueled hostility and put his loved ones at risk.
Homan made the remarks while speaking on The Faulkner Focus on Wednesday, January 14, revealing that threats against him have tripled in recent weeks and now extend beyond himself to his family members.
🚨Border Czar Tom Homan: “Death threats against me alone have tripled. I had one [death threat] yesterday, which was a little different. They didn’t want to kill me. They wanted to kiII my family. These people are unhinged.”pic.twitter.com/990sBPEJoe
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) January 14, 2026
A clip of the interview was shared widely on social media, with Homan describing those behind the threats as “unhinged” and accusing political leaders of encouraging violence through inflammatory language.
Tom Homan blames anti-ICE rhetoric for rising threats
Homan, a longtime law enforcement official and former acting ICE director, argued that sustained criticism of immigration enforcement has crossed into dangerous territory.
“I said back in March, if the hateful rhetoric doesn’t decrease, there’s going to be bloodshed,” he said. “Unfortunately, I was right."
He specifically blamed Democratic leaders for what he described as reckless language targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, warning that such rhetoric places officers and their families in danger.
ICE conducts targeted operations to enforce federal immigration laws that have existed for decades, and they do it with the utmost professionalism. 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…
— Thomas D. Homan (@RealTomHoman) January 11, 2026
Homan has repeatedly defended ICE operations, stressing that agents are enforcing laws passed by Congress and upheld by federal courts. In a recent post on X, he wrote that ICE conducts “targeted operations” with professionalism and does not decide who is deported.
“They don’t choose who gets deported, the law and federal judges do,” Homan said, adding that objections to immigration policy should be directed at lawmakers rather than enforcement officers.
ICE raids draw backlash after Minneapolis shooting
Homan’s comments come amid heightened tensions over ICE activity nationwide, particularly following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7.
Good was shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross during an enforcement operation. The Trump administration later labeled her a “domestic t*******t,” a designation that intensified backlash from local and state leaders.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey renewed his criticism of federal immigration enforcement, reiterating his call for ICE to “get the f**k out” of the city. Frey said the influx of ICE agents has caused disruption and fear within the community.
“We care deeply about our immigrant population. We care deeply about everybody in our city,” Frey said, adding that the scale of the operations has created chaos rather than safety.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also condemned the raids, urging residents to document ICE activity. In a video message, Walz encouraged Minnesotans to peacefully film agents during operations, calling it a way to establish accountability.
“You have an absolute right to peacefully record what’s happening in your community,” Walz said, adding that such documentation could serve as evidence in future legal action.
As political tensions intensify, Homan maintains that threats against his family underscore the real-world consequences of escalating rhetoric around immigration enforcement.
