Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to send a surge of immigration agents to New York City, escalating the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. In a Fox News interview on Monday, Homan said he had reviewed an operational plan to deploy 'more ICE agents than you've ever seen' in the city.
Homan stated that the move fulfills a promise he made to New York Governor Kathy Hochul after she signed legislation barring state and local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in jails. 'I made her a promise: you're going to see more ICE agents than you've ever seen in New York City, and it's coming,' Homan said.
The threat comes as millions are expected to visit the region for the NBA finals and the FIFA World Cup final, set to take place in New Jersey, about 10 miles from the city. Immigrant rights advocates have issued travel warnings for the 10 million visitors expected for the World Cup, citing risks of 'serious rights violations' including arbitrary denial of entry and risk of arrest, detention, or deportation.
At least 18 people have died in ICE custody this year. In January, during an enforcement surge in Minneapolis, immigration officers killed two US citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, within weeks.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded, saying: 'Soccer would not exist without immigrants. Immigrants play and coach the game, work in the stadiums, fill the stands, and make celebrations like the World Cup possible. We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities – especially at this moment.'
