Incoming border czar Tom Homan announced that mass deportations of illegal immigrants would start on "day one." He made the statement during an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
Homan, chosen by President-elect Trump to oversee border security and deportation efforts, shared his plans with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins. He outlined the agenda for the new administration’s approach to border security.
"Day one – ICE officers across the country will be out on the streets," Homan declared when asked about the timing of "mass deportations."
He emphasized the urgency of the initiative, pointing to significant "public safety threats" caused by illegal immigration in the U.S. "Right out of the gate — the president has made it clear, and I‘ve made it clear — the priority right out of the gates is public safety threats and national security threats. And there’s plenty of them to find," he stressed.
Homan, who previously led the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation branch during the Obama administration, criticized the current lack of enforcement. He linked it to national security and public safety concerns.
"I looked at the data under the Biden administration. The deportation of criminal aliens has decreased 74 percent," Homan explained. "We have all those folks that the Biden administration failed to deport, plus over ten million encounters on the southern border."
"The public safety threats are plenty, and it’s going to keep us busy," he added.
The New York Times reported that the Biden administration experienced the highest immigration rates in U.S. history. A Congressional Budget Office report estimated net migration during Biden’s term would reach about eight million people.
Sixty percent of this net migration involved illegal immigration. The report attributed the surge to Biden’s "welcoming immigration policy during his first three years in office."
The Times noted, "After taking office, [Biden’s] administration loosened the rules on asylum and other immigration policies. Some entrants received temporary legal status while their cases wend through backlogged immigration courts. Others remained without legal permission."
ICE data shared with GOP lawmakers in September showed over 7 million illegal immigrants are not detained but awaiting or going through removal proceedings. Among them are 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 with pending criminal charges.
Homan hasn’t shied away from speaking bluntly about the upcoming deportation strategy. He gained attention in October for his remarks on "60 Minutes" about avoiding family separations during deportations.
"Families can be deported together," Homan stated.
He also confronted Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston over opposition to Trump’s border policies. Last month, Homan told Fox News, "Me and the Denver mayor agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail. I’m willing to put him in jail."