Tom Homan, the newly appointed “border czar” by Donald Trump, has made a strong commitment to increase the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Los Angeles for the purpose of carrying out extensive deportation operations.
Homan has stated that he plans to double the current number of agents in order to effectively tackle the immigration issues in the city.
Los Angeles, along with other sanctuary cities, has pledged to resist President Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan, which he aims to implement in January upon his return to the White House.
Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, has shown her support by endorsing a sanctuary ordinance that received unanimous approval from the L.A. City Council on Tuesday.
During a Newsmax appearance on Friday, Homan stated that federal immigration officers would disregard the sanctuary status of the California city and proceed with Trump’s deportations. He emphasized that the president-elect has a “mandate” to deport migrants nationwide, regardless of the objections of local officials.
L.A. City Council member Hugo Soto-Martínez recently made a statement on MSNBC, declaring that the city would not cooperate with or enforce Trump’s deportation efforts. This statement did not sit well with Homan, who expressed his disappointment and concern regarding the potential risks to public safety that may arise from defying the Trump administration’s initiatives.
“Every time, federal law takes precedence over state and local law. So, if you’re not willing to assist, kindly step aside,” Homan declared assertively. “We are taking action, and nothing will impede our progress. It’s important to remember that knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien is a felony. I ask, why would anyone oppose these efforts?”
The speaker continued with determination, stating, “We will send twice as many officers to L.A. if we do not receive any assistance. We have a mandate, and both President Trump and I are committed to making this happen. Whether you choose to support us or not, this is going to happen.”
The new Los Angeles ordinance instructs local authorities to refrain from assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts in the majority of cases. Bass called upon the council to approve the measure last week, stating that it would effectively tackle the “increasing risks faced by immigrant communities in Los Angeles” and contribute to the enhancement of our communities and city.
On Friday, Bass’ office was contacted by Newsweek via email for comment.
On November 10, Trump announced on Truth Social that Homan, who served as acting ICE director during his first administration and contributed to Project 2025, would assume responsibility for overseeing our nation’s borders.
“I have known Tom for a long time, and there is no one better at policing and controlling our borders,” Trump stated. “Similarly, Tom Homan will be responsible for overseeing the deportation of illegal aliens back to their country of origin.”
In recent media appearances, Homan has been issuing warnings to Democrats about the consequences of defying him and President Trump in the upcoming year. In a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, he emphasized that migrants will face challenges when the White House transitions to a new administration.
“We are primarily focusing on addressing public safety threats and national security threats,” he asserted. “No politician, whether they hold the position of a mayor or governor, would willingly allow public safety threats to persist in their community. It’s just absurd.”
He emphasized, “If you’re in the country illegally, you can’t escape scrutiny. Crossing the border unlawfully is a crime. Every individual who has crossed that border illegally has committed a crime.
It is unacceptable for anyone to reside in this country without proper documentation… So, if you find yourself in this situation, you have a serious issue to address.”
Homan and other supporters of Trump argue that the president-elect’s immigration policies are a result of a mandate received after a convincing election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. However, upon further analysis of the vote counts, it is evident that his win was relatively close.
In the 2020 presidential election, Trump achieved a somewhat unexpected victory in terms of popular vote. However, his margin of victory is projected to be less than 2 percent, making it the narrowest margin in a presidential election since George W. Bush’s win over Al Gore in 2000.
