Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director and current Trump Administration immigration advisor Tom Homan delivered a forceful address before the Arizona state legislature on Tuesday, April 8. Homan pledged to pursue the deportation of all individuals in the country illegally, regardless of political opposition or criticism from progressive groups.
The speech comes as part of a broader push by the Trump Administration to intensify immigration enforcement across the United States. Recent actions have included high-profile deportations, such as transferring members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison, and policy measures aimed at encouraging self-deportation through increased penalties and enforcement threats.
During his remarks, Homan clarified that while individuals who pose public safety or national security threats remain the top priority, no undocumented immigrant is exempt from removal. “President Trump said, day one will concentrate on the public safety threats and national security threats first,” Homan stated. “But I’ve been clear from day one. If you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table. If we find a non-criminal illegal alien, they’re coming too.”
Homan emphasized that unlawful entry into the U.S. constitutes a criminal offense and reiterated his position that immigration laws must be enforced universally. “It’s not okay to be in this country illegally, and people hate on me for that,” he said. “If you’re in the country illegally, you should be looking over your shoulder.”
The former ICE chief also took aim at officials from the Biden Administration, accusing them of undermining immigration enforcement. He specifically criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, claiming that enforcement restrictions amounted to rewriting immigration law. “Mayorkas told ICE officers they couldn’t arrest someone for being here illegally unless convicted of a serious crime,” Homan said. “We’re going back to enforcing the law as written. If officers find someone here illegally while pursuing a priority target, they’re taking them in too.”
In his closing comments, Homan defended the administration’s approach to deporting members of transnational gangs, which he described as threats to national security. He asserted that groups like Tren de Aragua are linked to foreign governments and are intentionally destabilizing the United States. “We know through years of investigation that they are embedded with the Venezuelan government, military, and police,” Homan claimed.
He concluded by stating that the Trump Administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to target such individuals and that organizations like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 are now classified as terrorist groups. “They’ve come here to harm and unsettle this country,” Homan said. “President Trump is using every authority available to get them out.”
Homan’s remarks have drawn strong reactions from both supporters of stricter immigration enforcement and critics who view the rhetoric and policies as overly harsh and politically charged. The Trump Administration has indicated it will continue pursuing similar measures nationwide as part of its broader immigration agenda.
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