Trump's Border Czar Urges Pope to Avoid Immigration Commentary
Tom Homan, the official overseeing President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement, has publicly called on Pope Leo XIV to refrain from involving himself in political discussions regarding border security. Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, Homan, who describes himself as a lifelong Catholic, expressed his frustration with the Vatican's stance.
"I wish they would stay out of immigration if they don't know what they're talking about," Homan told reporters, emphasising that he was speaking in a personal capacity rather than on behalf of the president.
Graphic Accounts of Border Realities
Homan elaborated on his position by referencing harrowing experiences from his four-decade career in immigration enforcement. "If they wore my shoes for 40 years and talked to a nine-year-old little girl that got raped multiple times, or stood in the back of a trailer, 19 dead aliens at my feet, including a five-year-old boy that baked to death, if they understood the atrocities that happen on an open border, I think their opinion would change," he stated.
He argued that illegal immigration is far from a victimless crime, crediting President Trump's policies with saving thousands of lives annually through enhanced border security. "Human traffickers are out of business, right? The cartels are going bankrupt because of that secure border," Homan asserted, expressing a desire for the church to comprehend these realities.
Newsmax Interview Reinforces Criticism
Later, in an interview with Rob Schmitt on Newsmax, Homan reiterated his objections to the Catholic Church's political engagement. "It's unacceptable, and I've called the Pope out before," he declared, noting his lifelong involvement in the church through baptism, first communion, and confirmation.
Homan expressed disappointment that the Vatican chooses to weigh in on such issues, suggesting it should instead address internal problems. "There are enough problems with the Catholic Church – and I know because I'm a member of the Catholic Church – that they need to fix and concentrate on and leave politics alone," he said.
He also highlighted a perceived hypocrisy, pointing out that "if you cross the wall at the Vatican, you're going to prison, and the penalties are much worse there than they are here."
Offer to Educate the Vatican
Homan extended an invitation to sit down with church officials to explain the benefits of a secure border. "I wish they would sit down and let me educate them on open borders," he said, citing statistics such as a 97 percent reduction in illegal immigration under Trump.
"How many women aren't being raped by the cartels? How many children aren't dying making that journey? How many pounds of fentanyl aren't killing Americans?" he questioned, arguing that stronger borders enhance national security and safety.
He concluded by stating, "I think they're talking from a position of not knowing what I know, what happens behind the scenes on illegal immigration. I'd be willing to sit down with them. I'm disappointed they're taking this position."
Background of the Feud
The tension between the Trump administration and the Vatican escalated when Pope Leo XIV delivered a sermon at St Peter's Basilica, advocating for peace and criticising warmongering leaders without naming them directly. "To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace!" the Pope urged, calling for dialogue over rearmament.
President Trump responded by labelling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" and sharing a controversial meme depicting himself as Christ, a move that risked alienating his Christian supporters.
While the Pope dismissed the insult, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, defended Trump, describing the meme as "a joke" and echoing Homan's sentiment that religious leaders should focus on morality while political leaders handle policy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has since supported the Pope, stating, "Frankly, I would not feel at ease in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders tell them to do."
