In this Shawn Ryan Show episode, former ICE Director Tom Homan shares his career journey in law enforcement, from starting as a Border Patrol agent in 1984 to becoming the first ICE Director to rise from the ground up. He discusses his role as "border czar" during the Trump administration, detailing immigration policies like the "Remain in Mexico" program and the "Third Safe Country Agreement."
Homan examines differences between the Trump and Biden administrations' approaches to border security, including policy changes and their effects on illegal border crossings. He also addresses current challenges at the southern border, drawing from his experience to discuss issues such as cartel operations, human trafficking, and the tracking of individuals crossing the border without detection.
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Tom Homan, raised in a patriotic, Catholic community in West Carthage, New York, followed his father's and grandfather's footsteps into law enforcement. Starting as a Border Patrol agent in 1984, Homan worked his way through various positions, including special agent criminal investigator, focusing on immigration-related crimes. He eventually became the first ICE Director to rise from the ground up, maintaining strong connections with field agents and never forgetting his roots.
As "border czar" under President Trump, Homan implemented comprehensive immigration policies, including the "Remain in Mexico" program and the "Third Safe Country Agreement." According to Homan, these initiatives, combined with a "whole-of-government" approach involving multiple agencies, significantly reduced illegal border crossings. He notes that under Trump's leadership, only nine individuals were released from the border in the first hundred days, primarily for humanitarian reasons or as material witnesses.
Homan criticizes the Biden administration's reversal of Trump-era policies, suggesting these changes have led to unprecedented illegal border crossings from 181 countries. He expresses concern over what he describes as ineffective "legal pathways" like the CBP1 app and CHNV program, which he argues serve more as alternative entry methods than genuine legal solutions.
Drawing from his firsthand experience, Homan describes severe challenges at the southern border, including cartel violence and human trafficking. He points to troubling incidents, such as the death of 19 people in a tractor-trailer and cases of sexual assault against migrants. Under the Biden administration, Homan claims there have been over 2.2 million "gotaways," raising concerns about potential security threats, including individuals from terrorist watch lists entering the country undetected.
1-Page Summary
Tom Homan has followed a career in law enforcement from a young age, inspired by his father and grandfather. His rise through the ranks to become the first ICE Director to have started from the ground up is a testament to his dedication and understanding of law enforcement.
Homan describes his upbringing in West Carthage, New York, as one framed by a patriotic and Catholic environment. In a town with a population of about 2,500, Homan grew up in a strong community where "it takes a village to grow a kid." With a family of seven children, his upbringing was characterized by discipline and respect for the law, influenced by his father's role as a judge. He grew up in an area near Fort Drum where police were highly respected and where love for the country was a common sentiment, with American flags adorning many porches.
From around kindergarten, Homan knew he wanted a career in law enforcement, mirroring his father's and grandfather's paths. His father, a World War II gunfire survivor, also served as a police officer before becoming a judge, and this exposure to the dignified uniform had a profound impact on him. Like the rest of his family, who chose public service careers, Homan wanted to give back to his community.
In 1984, Homan started his career as a Border Patrol agent after a conversation with a Border Patrol agent while fishing. He spent significant time on the southern border, later joining a squad that dealt with bandits attacking people crossing into the U.S. Homan then moved to becoming a criminal investigator focusing on immigration-related crimes.
Homan's career took him from Campo, California, to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988, where he spent ten years investigating crimes such as alien smuggling, immigration fraud, and work site enforcement. From Phoenix, he advanced his career in San Antonio as the head of the office, ultimately making his way to ICE Director.
Homan's Career Path and Law Enforcement Experience
The Trump Administration's approach to border security and immigration policy, notably under the oversight of Tom Homan, sought to implement a comprehensive strategy that aimed to reduce illegal crossings and enforce immigration laws within the United States.
Shawn Ryan introduces Tom Homan as the "border czar" under President Trump's second administration. Homan was personally asked by President Trump, through an emergency call during his retirement ceremony from John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security, to stay on and lead the agency. Offered a two-step promotion, Homan was given the marching orders to enforce the law as he hadn't been able to do in the previous four years, according to Trump.
Homan worked closely on Trump's hardline immigration policies, including the "Remain in Mexico" program and the "Third Safe Country Agreement." He was involved in strategic planning that informed border security decisions, contributing to policies aimed at reducing illegal immigration. Thanks to these initiatives, Mexico agreed to keep asylum seekers on its side of the border while their claims were processed, and other countries were held accountable to manage the migration flow.
Homan also emphasized the importance of playing the "away game" against criminal cartels, a strategy endorsed by Trump, which involved designating cartels as terrorists and collaborating with Mexico to combat them. He referenced working directly out of the White House to develop these strategies and policies that proved effective during Trump's administration.
Tom Homan credits the significant reduction in illegal crossings to a "whole-of-government" approach initiated under President Trump. This comprehensive strategy entailed coordination among multiple agencies, including ICE, DEA, FBI, ATF, the U.S. Marshals, the State Department, and potentially the postal inspectors. Homan highlights the enhanced sharing of intelligence, integration of databases, and the support ...
Trump Administration's Border Security and Immigration Policies
The conversation with Tom Homan focuses on the impacts of the Biden administration's border security and immigration policies, highlighting concerns over increased illegal border activities and questioning the motivations behind policy changes.
Tom Homan vocalizes significant dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's reversal of Trump-era immigration policies, which he suggests has led to a surge in illegal border crossings. He cites data indicating that under Biden, an unprecedented number of people from 181 countries knew they could be quickly released into the U.S. and receive various free services. Homan criticizes these policy changes and claims they have empowered cartels, giving them operational control of the southern border.
Homan compares the vastly different numbers of individuals released into the U.S. under the Trump administration versus the Biden administration. He indicates that the Border Patrol catches perhaps only 10% of what is coming across the border, highlighting a significant increase in the number of releases under Biden's watch.
Moreover, Homan points to changes concerning the treatment of children detained at the border. He contends that these children are now being handed over to the same individuals who may have arranged their smuggling, which he refers to as a felony.
Homan also expresses frustration, suggesting he is disturbed by the consequences of a more porous border, which he believes would result in more deaths and sexual assaults by cartels. Although there is no direct quote addressing Homan's daily emotional state, the overall context implies deep dissatisfaction with the perceived insecurity at the border due to policy shifts under the Biden administration.
Tom Homan is critical of what he terms the Biden administration's "legal pathways," referencing programs like the CBP1 app and the CH ...
Impacts of Biden's Border Security and Immigration Policies
Tom Homan strongly emphasizes the many challenges at the U.S. southern border, rooted in cartel activity, human trafficking, and border security issues. He shares his firsthand experiences in addressing these crises and his deep concerns for public safety and national security.
Tom Homan is profoundly affected by the tragedies arising at the border, a crisis often marred by violence and exploitation by cartels. He recounts a traumatic instance where a 9-year-old girl was repeatedly assaulted by cartel members during her journey to the U.S. Homan was personally impacted by the case, highlighting that these encounters deeply influence his perspectives on border security.
Cartel crimes are not only limited to sexual violence but also to horrifying events like the 19 individuals who died in a tractor-trailer in Victoria, Texas. Homan describes this scene in harrowing detail—stories of people clawing for air and a personal connection to a child who died in the same color underwear as his five-year-old son at the time. This, among other devastating incidents like finding rape trees and hearing of a young girl's body violated postmortem, paints a grim picture of the border crisis.
Homan provides a stern warning about the current state of U.S. border security under the Biden administration, claiming control has been ceded to the cartels. With over 2.2 million "gotaways," those who eluded authorities, the nation could be harboring criminals ...
Challenges With Cartels, Human Trafficking, and Border Security
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