ICE Official Tom Homan Addresses Deportation Targets for National Recovery

President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan announced plans to dramatically increase deportations across the United States, saying “millions” of undocumented immigrants would need to be removed to fulfill the administration’s immigration enforcement goals.

In an interview with Fox News’ Will Cain on Thursday, Homan dismissed rumors that the administration is scaling back enforcement operations. Instead, he emphasized that deportation efforts would intensify, particularly in sanctuary cities where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

“We’re going to continue to surge resources, especially to sanctuary cities, because we know we have a problem there,” Homan said. “So, I expect the numbers to increase while the border numbers continue to decrease.”

When asked about the scale of deportations needed, Homan offered a stark assessment of the undocumented population in the United States. “Millions. Look… I see it all the time, there’s 12 million illegal aliens in the country, we used 12 million 25 years ago, I think it’s well over 20 million. So, we’re going to do everything we can to arrest as many people as we can.”

Responding to questions about the logistical challenges of such large-scale operations, Homan was undeterred, stating, “I’ll give it one hell of a shot.” He added, “Bottom line is we’re not going to give up on President Trump’s promise to the American people on mass deportations.”

The administration is significantly expanding its enforcement capabilities, with Homan confirming plans to hire 10,000 additional immigration enforcement agents. He noted that approximately 7,000 are already “on board” with another 3,000 currently undergoing training.

Homan has advised Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that the “vast majority” of these new agents should be deployed to sanctuary cities, where local authorities have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“We go to Florida, every sheriff, every police chief is working with us. They honor detainers, we’ve got less of a problem in states like that, Florida and Texas,” Homan explained. “However, in states that want to lock us out of jails, that refuse, sheriffs and chiefs, to work with us in any capacity, that’s where we know it’s a problem, because we know they are releasing public safety threats, illegal aliens every day.”

The border czar recently made headlines with his direct challenge to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has resisted federal immigration operations in her state. After Hochul claimed federal agents aren’t welcome in New York without permission, Homan responded forcefully: “Well, Governor Hochul, I’m not asking either. I said it. We’re going to do it.”

“This is what we have to do because she forces this position. And we’re going to do it. They’re not going to stop us. They can put all the roadblocks they want, but we’re going to do this job,” Homan added, vowing to “flood the zone” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers despite state resistance.

The administration’s aggressive deportation strategy represents a significant escalation in immigration enforcement compared to previous years. Immigration experts note that such a massive deportation operation would be unprecedented in modern American history and would require substantial logistical coordination, detention capacity, and legal processing capabilities.

Critics of the plan question both its feasibility and humanitarian implications, while supporters argue it fulfills campaign promises to enforce immigration laws more stringently. The targeting of sanctuary jurisdictions also highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration policies and local governance priorities in many major metropolitan areas across the country.

As the administration prepares to expand its enforcement operations, the debate over immigration policy continues to be one of the most divisive issues in American politics, with profound implications for communities nationwide.