HOUSTON, Texas – Re-elected President Donald Trump is steadfast in his plan to deport 11 million immigrants upon returning to the White House.
During his presidential campaign, Trump declared, “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America,” referencing a program initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 9, 1954.
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In his first week back in office, Trump signed 10 executive orders on immigration and issued numerous directives to fulfill his promises of mass deportations.
On Wednesday, the House approved the Laken Riley Act, a bill requiring the detainment of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. The act is named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by a Venezuelan immigrant with a criminal history.
In many cities, actions began immediately, though some legal challenges have arisen in others. Although some may take years to resolve, fear persists in immigrant communities.
From Thursday through Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported an average of 710 immigration arrests daily, up from 311 in the 12 months through September under President Joe Biden. If this rate continues, it would surpass ICE’s previous high mark set during the Obama administration, when daily arrests averaged 636 in 2013.
ICE averaged 376 daily arrests during the government’s four fiscal years aligning most closely with the first Trump administration, from 2017 to 2020. Numbers spiked starting Sunday and included highly publicized operations in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, and most prominently, Chicago.
Who is Tome Homan?
Tom Homan is ensuring that Trump’s orders are carried out. Trump named him the administration’s “border czar.”
The former acting director of ICE has hard-line immigration views and vowed to “run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen.” Homan, an early supporter of Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, which led to thousands of families being separated at the southern border, is also a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a contributor to Project 2025′s Mandate for Leadership book. He is the president and CEO of Border911, a nonprofit group that warns of the supposed threat posed by undocumented immigrants.
In 2017, Trump appointed Homan as the Acting Director of ICE, a position he held until he retired in 2018. From 2013 to his presidential appointment, Homan served as the Executive Associate Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. A law enforcement veteran, Homan previously served as a police officer in New York, a border patrol agent, and a special agent with the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, as well as a Supervisory Special Agent and Deputy Assistant Director for Investigations. Homan also has Texas ties; in 1999, he became the assistant district director for investigations in San Antonio and Dallas.
What is a border czar?
The term “czar” refers to a person appointed by the government to advise on and coordinate policy in a particular area.
Czar roles are not Senate-confirmed cabinet positions like the secretary of state, so the president can appoint someone to the position without the Senate’s input.
The role of the “border czar” involves overseeing the nation’s borders, including the southern border, northern border, and all maritime and aviation security, according to Trump.