On November 11, President-elect Donald Trump chose Tom Homan to be the border czar of his administration, a key piece in carrying out his campaign plan on mass deportations.
US Department of Homeland Security
Tom Homan at a CIE town hall in 2017.
On November 11, President-elect Donald Trump chose Tom Homan to be the border tsar of his administration, a key piece to carry out his campaign plan on mass deportations.
Trump had promised at a rally this summer that he would bring back Homan and he was one of the first nominees. Homan is a former federal agent, who started as a police officer in West Carthage, New York, before becoming a Border Patrol agent, then going to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where Trump promoted him to director.
As director of ICE, Homan was a key part of Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy and the family separation.
In 2023 Homan became president and CEO of the Fundación Fundación Border911promoting disinformation about a “border invasion” by “illegal immigrants.” Before becoming its own foundation, Border911 was part of The America Project, an organization founded by former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne and Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser.
According to one investigation of Lighthouse Reports, the Texas Observer, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, and Word, the Border911 Foundation and its members promote extremist policies.
Border911 has made waves in Arizona, where several bills backed by the foundation have been pushed by Republican lawmakers. For example, voters in Arizona approved a reform that gives state and local authorities more powers to enforce immigration laws.
So to talk about the Tom Homan investigation, we invited two of the authors Francesca D’Annunzio of the Texas Observer and Monica Camacho of Lighthouse Reports.
More details in our conversation below.
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What factors contributed to Tom Homan being chosen for his role in addressing the border crisis, and how did his background influence this decision?
1. As journalists who have investigated Tom Homan’s role in the border crisis, can you tell us how he became the prime candidate for this position?
2. In your investigation, what specific policies or incidents stood out that link Homan to extremist groups and disinformation campaigns about immigration?
3. How do you think the appointment of someone like Homan will impact border security and the lives of immigrants in the United States?
4. There’s been some criticism from within the law enforcement community about Homan’s lack of experience in national security matters. Does this concern you, and do you think it might hinder his effectiveness in this new role?
5. What are your thoughts on the current state of immigration policy in the U.S., and what changes (if any) would you like to see implemented?
6. How do you think the Biden administration’s immigration policies differ from those of the Trump administration, and what are the implications of these differences?
7. In your opinion, how important is it for journalists to remain vigilant in exposing disinformation campaigns and their sources, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues like immigration?
