Former Border Czar Tom Homan stated that common-sense border security and deportation policies were once supported by Democrats but are now demonized due to opposition to former President Donald Trump. Homan made these remarks on "The Katie Miller Podcast," arguing that the current Democratic Party's stance on immigration enforcement has shifted dramatically.
Homan recalled receiving an award from President Barack Obama for deporting a record number of undocumented immigrants. "President Obama gave me an award because we removed 409,000 people that year," Homan said. He attributed the shift in public and political perception to "false rhetoric" from the media and a "hatred for this president" that motivated Democrats to oppose policies previously considered acceptable.
"What's turned the tide is the false rhetoric, hateful rhetoric by the media, you know, about the inhumane policies of the Trump administration," Homan stated. He contrasted the Trump administration's policies with the current situation under President Joe Biden, highlighting the deaths of over 4,000 migrants during their journey and a quarter-million American deaths from fentanyl crossing the border. "President Trump has illegal immigration down 96%. Which means 96% less people are coming," Homan added, suggesting that securing the border is the most humane action.
He further contended that media coverage and rhetoric from some members of Congress have led to normalized noncompliance with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Homan suggested that labeling ICE agents as "fascists" or "Nazis" encourages confrontation. "People think it's okay not to comply with ICE now, because they're hearing over and over again they're not a real law enforcement agency," he warned. Homan also commented on recent violent encounters, stating that if individuals had complied with law enforcement, such tragedies could have been avoided, though he emphasized that compliance does not mean individuals deserve to die.
Homan pointed to historical figures like former Sen. Harry Reid, who he noted expressed concerns about birthright citizenship in the 1990s, as evidence of how far societal views on immigration have shifted. He suggested that media and colleges have contributed to moving public opinion further to the left, with a significant portion of media coverage being negative and misrepresenting the actions of border enforcement agencies.