Tom Homan Lays Out Vision for Border Security and Immigration Reform

In a wide-ranging interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, incoming Border Czar Tom Homan detailed his approach to tackling immigration and border security challenges. Appointed by Donald Trump, Homan outlined a comprehensive plan that includes aggressive enforcement, targeting cartels as national security threats, and reforming what he described as a “broken asylum system.”

Homan, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is returning to public service with decades of experience. His proposals aim to restore policies from the Trump administration while addressing structural issues in U.S. immigration enforcement.

Comparing Administrations: Policies and Outcomes

Cuomo began the interview by examining immigration trends under recent administrations. Under President Obama, annual illegal border crossings stood at 400,000 by the end of his term. Trump’s first year saw crossings drop to 300,000, largely due to his “tough talk” on immigration and the implementation of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed. By the end of Trump’s presidency, crossings increased to 400,000 amid pandemic-related disruptions.

However, border encounters surged to 1.7 million in President Biden’s first year, driven by what Homan described as more lenient policies and an uptick in asylum claims. “Biden’s policies changed the definition of enforcement,” Homan argued, leading to millions of migrants being released into the U.S. and a drop in deportations.

“Remain in Mexico” and Ending Catch-and-Release

Homan credited Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” program with reducing illegal immigration significantly. Under this policy, migrants awaiting asylum hearings were required to stay outside the U.S., deterring those seeking entry without strong asylum claims. “It was a game-changer,” Homan said. “When migrants knew they wouldn’t be released into the U.S., crossings dropped.”

Homan also criticized the practice of “catch-and-release,” where migrants are released pending court dates that can take years to schedule. Many, he said, fail to appear for their hearings. “There’s no consequence for entering this country illegally,” Homan asserted, adding that a secure border would save lives by reducing migrant exploitation, cartel violence, and fentanyl trafficking.

Fighting the Cartels: A National Security Threat

A major element of Homan’s vision involves targeting cartels, which he characterized as operating like “Fortune 500 companies.” Homan supports designating cartels as terrorist organizations, enabling the U.S. to take military or legal action against them. He emphasized the devastation caused by fentanyl, much of which is trafficked by cartels, leading to hundreds of thousands of American deaths. “These cartels have killed more Americans than any terrorist group,” Homan said.

While Cuomo noted that focusing on cartels could address root causes of migration, Homan stressed that immigration enforcement and cartel suppression should go hand in hand. He highlighted the need for Mexico to play a larger role, adding that U.S. pressure might be necessary if Mexican authorities fail to act.

Fixing the Asylum System

The backlog in the asylum process was a recurring theme in the discussion. Homan pointed to more than three million pending cases and wait times averaging four years for hearings as evidence of systemic failure. “The asylum system is broken,” Homan said, calling for reforms that would align initial asylum screenings with the stricter standards used in immigration courts. He noted that nearly 90% of asylum claims are ultimately denied.

Homan argued that allowing asylum seekers to remain in the U.S. while their cases are adjudicated encourages unauthorized crossings. His solution: process asylum claims outside the U.S. and ensure immediate removal for those who do not meet legal requirements.

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Economic Implications and Enforcement Priorities

Cuomo raised concerns about the economic impact of mass deportations, noting that undocumented workers play significant roles in agriculture, construction, and hospitality industries. Homan acknowledged these challenges but maintained that enforcing immigration laws is essential. “If you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table,” he said, while clarifying that deportation efforts would prioritize individuals posing public safety or national security threats.

Homan emphasized that current policies have undermined the authority of immigration courts. “If a federal judge orders your removal and you’re not removed, it sends the wrong message to the world,” he said. Enforcing deportation orders, he argued, would restore integrity to the system.

Three Key Reforms

When asked to outline three actions that could fix the border crisis, Homan proposed the following:

Amending the Flores Settlement Agreement to allow longer detention of families, enabling swift adjudication of their cases.
Revising the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) to streamline the return of unaccompanied minors from non-contiguous countries.
Ending “Catch-and-Release” by processing asylum claims outside the U.S. and detaining individuals until their cases are resolved.

Homan believes these reforms, coupled with strong border enforcement, would address the root causes of illegal immigration and reduce exploitation by cartels.

Final Thoughts

Homan concluded by highlighting the human cost of an unsecured border, including the deaths of migrants and the suffering inflicted by cartels. He expressed a commitment to transparency, urging media outlets to report on the realities of border enforcement. “There’s no downside to a secure border,” he said, adding that immigration policy should transcend partisan politics to prioritize national security and humanitarian concerns.

As Homan steps into his new role, the challenges ahead are substantial. His track record and firm stance suggest that his tenure as Border Czar will focus on stringent enforcement, policy reforms, and collaboration with international partners to address the complex dynamics of immigration.

For the full interview between Chris Cuomo and Tom Homan on NewsNation, you can watch it here on YouTube.

Dave Soulia | FYIVT

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