Tom Homan slams Mamdani over sanctuary city policies, ICE criticism
Border czar Tom Homan blasts New York City's sanctuary policies and Mayor Zohran Mamdani's refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Homan argues this stance endangers citizens and prevents the removal of criminal aliens, citing thousands of arrests. He also reacts to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's legislation and the Memphis pizzeria controversy.
White House border czar Tom Homan warned of an incoming ICE surge in New York City, citing the Trump administration's refusal to be deterred by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's embrace of the Big Apple's sanctuary status.
"It's coming," Homan told the hosts of "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday.
While remaining tight-lipped on further details, Homan clarified his reluctance to elaborate stems from a refusal to show the Trump administration's hand.
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Border Czar Tom Homan visits "Varney & Co." at Fox Business Network on Jan. 13 in New York City. (left); Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, during a news conference at Gracie Mansion in New York, on Monday, Jan. 12. (right) (Noam Galai/Getty Images (left); John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images (right))
"ICE is operating in New York City today. We're operating across the state today, but there's going to be a surge, and there needs to be a surge," he said.
"But I am not going to show our hand because there are... well-funded groups who will try to impede, interfere. We're not going give them any upside on this," he added.
Homan's remarks came after Mamdani expressed "pride" in the city's sanctuary identity and asserted its unwillingness to participate in immigration enforcement during a New York Times interview Saturday.
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ICE agents stand guard in front of protesters outside the federal immigration center at Delaney Hall in Newark, where ICE is housing detained immigrants on May 26 in Newark, N.J. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
"What we are unwilling to do is to participate in civil immigration enforcement with a federal government that has said openly it wants to deport a vast majority of people for crimes that we will never even know," he said.
When asked by The Times if he had been to the U.S.-Mexico border as a follow-up, he replied, "No."
Homan fired back at the sound-bite from the interview, contending that the Democratic socialist can have his stance, but he will not prevent ICE from doing its job.
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"He's damn right. Every illegal alien in this nation that's here illegally, [and] crossed the border illegally, which is a crime, needs to be deported," he said.
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"That's called the rule of law. If he doesn't like it, call your members of Congress, tell them to change the law."
Homan insisted President Donald Trump's campaign promises to bolster border security and impose mass deportations are a large reason why he holds the Oval Office today, arguing his administration's results have demonstrated his willingness to fulfill those promises.
