President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former acting ICE Director Tom Homan as the new “border czar” for his second administration. Homan, a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s border policies, has stated that he is “honored” to take on the role, pledging to help restore what he calls a crucial element of national security.
Speaking with Fox & Friends on Monday, Homan expressed his long-standing concerns over the border crisis, saying he’s been vocal for years about the issues he sees with current policies.
“I’ve been yelling and screaming about it and what they need to do to fix it,” he said, emphasizing that he couldn’t decline Trump’s offer. “I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t. I’m honored the president asked me to come back and help solve this national security crisis, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Homan’s appointment is a stark contrast to the current administration’s approach, with border czar responsibilities presently held by Vice President Kamala Harris. Illegal border crossings have reportedly surged since President Joe Biden took office, reaching nearly 3 million in fiscal year 2024 alone, according to Homeland Security figures.
This spike has driven Trump to highlight immigration as a key campaign issue, setting his administration’s proposed border policies apart from those of the Biden-Harris administration. Trump’s platform calls for strict border controls, mass deportations, and renewed wall construction along the southern border.
For Homan, the mission to secure the border is personal. “Every morning… I’m pissed off with what this [Biden] administration did to the most secure border in my lifetime,” he said, underscoring his determination to address what he views as a crisis.
Homan’s plans include prioritizing action against individuals deemed public safety or national security threats, such as drug cartels and sex traffickers, marking a return to hardline immigration enforcement.
This isn’t Homan’s first time stepping out of retirement for the role. A veteran in the field, he previously served as the first ICE director who rose through the ranks. “I was a Border Patrol agent, I wore that uniform, and I’m proud that I wore that uniform,” he said. As a former ICE agent and director, he feels a strong connection to the thousands of agents he once led, saying, “I didn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.”
Since word of his return emerged, Homan has been flooded with messages of support from ICE agents and retired law enforcement officials alike, many eager to help implement Trump’s border strategy. “Thousands of retired agents, retired military [have called] that want to come in and volunteer to help this president secure the border and do this deportation operation,” Homan shared.
Despite facing death threats over his high-profile role, Homan remains committed. “They’re not going to shut me up. They’re not going to make me go away. This is the biggest national security vulnerability this nation has seen since 9/11. We have to fix it,” he affirmed.
As Homan steps into his new role, Trump supporters see a renewed promise of secure borders and a determined effort to address illegal immigration.