Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Tom Homan has been compelled to publicly defend his agents' use of masks while on duty, even as he personally expressed dislike for the practice. Homan, often referred to as the border czar, praised the work of ICE personnel during operations in Minnesota, specifically highlighting the Metro Surge initiative.
Safety Concerns Justify Mask Usage
In an interview with CBS News, Homan acknowledged his personal aversion to masks but emphasized their necessity due to escalating threats against ICE officers. "As far as the mask look, you know I don't like the masks either," he told reporter Ed O'Keefe. "But because threats against ICE officers are up over 1500 percent. Actual assaults and threats are up over 8000 percent. These men and women have to protect themselves."
Identification and Doxing Issues
Homan refuted claims that masked agents are unidentifiable, noting that all personnel wear placards with identifying marks. He redirected criticism toward legislative solutions, questioning why there isn't more focus on passing laws against doxing agents. "Why don't they talk about maybe passing legislation to make it illegal to dox agents or something like that?" Homan asked, pointing to recent incidents involving ICE Director Todd Lyons, whose family members were filmed and had their personal information exposed.
Minnesota Operations Praised as Success
While defending the mask policy, Homan celebrated ICE's achievements during the Metro Surge in Minnesota, where the agency removed over 1,000 individuals with hundreds more expected. He described agreements with local jails as "a win" that allows ICE agents to work within secure facilities rather than conducting risky field operations. "If you really want us to focus on the criminals, then let us in the jail. That's the safest, most secure place to do our work," Homan stated, expressing hope that other sanctuary cities would adopt similar approaches.
De-escalation and Future Plans
Homan, tasked with reducing tensions in Minnesota following ICE raids and local deaths, indicated that operations would scale back to their "original footprint" with some personnel remaining for fraud investigations and security. A small response force would stay temporarily to handle potential agitators and ensure coordination with local law enforcement. "I'm hoping. I think things are going in the right direction, and I got faith they'll continue that way," he said regarding the timeline for withdrawing security forces.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
Homan extended his praise to ICE's overall performance during the Trump administration, claiming "the most secure border in history" and record numbers of criminal alien arrests and deportations. "This is one team, one fight. The results speak for themselves," he asserted. These comments come amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, with Homan assuring that immigration operations would continue unaffected. "The immigration mission, the reason why President Trump was elected to be president, continues," he told CNN.
Political Standoff and Policy Demands
The shutdown stems from disagreements over immigration reform between Democrats and the White House. Democratic demands for ICE include:
- Requiring body cameras and clear identification
- Banning masks during operations
- Halting racial profiling practices
- Mandating judicial warrants for arrests on private property
Homan countered these points, insisting that racial profiling "is just not occurring" and that all actions are based on reasonable suspicion within federal legal frameworks. He maintained that ICE agents operate strictly according to established statutes, despite the ongoing political impasse.
