President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday night that his former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan will serve as “border czar” when he retakes the White House in January.
Trump revealed the personnel appointment in a Truth Social post as he begins piecing together what his next administration will look like after he easily topped Vice President Kamala Harris in the race to become the 47th president last Tuesday.
Part of Homan’s responsibility will be to boot illegal migrants from the US, the future president said.
“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump wrote online.
“I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin.”
“I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job,” Trump added.
Homan’s new role won’t require confirmation by the US Senate, unlike other cabinet appointments including ICE director.
He previously served as acting ICE director but opted to retire after his nomination for the position was held up in the Senate over concerns about his record with the agency.
Billionaire Elon Musk applauded the latest announcement by Trump late Sunday.
“Congratulations @RealTomHoman on being given responsibility for enforcing our borders!” he wrote on Twitter.
Homan said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that ICE would carry out Trump’s massive deportation plan in a “humane manner” in which the military would not be involved.
“It’s going to be a well-targeted, planned operation conducted by the men of ICE. The men and women of ICE do this daily. They’re good at it,” he said.
“When we go out there, we’re going to know who we’re looking for. We most likely know where they’re going to be, and it’s going to be done in a humane manner.”
He told “60 Minutes” on CBS last month he would prioritize expelling migrants who are national security threats and public safety threats first, but more deportations would follow.
“It’s not OK to enter a country illegally, which is a crime. That’s what drives illegal immigration, when there’s no consequences,” he said.
“The Biden-Harris administration has proven this, you can get to the border, turn yourselves in, get released within 24 hours.”
When asked by “60 Minutes” interviewer Cecilia Varga if there was a way to carry out mass deportations without separating families, he replied, “Of course, families can be deported together.”
Trump has announced a couple of other appointments over the last few days, including upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the United Nations and Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff.
With Post wires
