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Tom Homan and Gov. Hochul (AP)
US President Donald Trump’s border czar,
Tom Homan
on Wednesday warned migrant "sanctuary" jurisdictions, urging them to "get out of the way" or face an increased presence of "exactly what they don’t want, more
ICE agents
in the community."
While visiting the
New York state Capitol
, Homan criticised Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democrats for backing sanctuary city policies, cautioning, "Sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don’t want—more agents in the community."
"You’re not going to stop us, New York state, you’ve got to change the sanctuary status. If you don’t, get out of the way, we’re going to do our job," he said, Fox News reported.
"We’ll double the man-force if we have to. Rather than one officer arresting a bad guy, now I have to send a whole team," he added.
New York's state legislation prevents state and local law enforcement from following ICE detainer requests or detaining undocumented immigrants solely on immigration status grounds.
Additionally, the "Green Light Law" enables undocumented immigrants to acquire New York state-valid driving licences.
At the state Capitol building, accompanied by Republican state legislators, Homan reaffirmed his commitment to prioritise deportation of serious offenders and criticised non-cooperation policies like New York's, stating they endanger federal agents and local communities.
Homan called on local and state law enforcement to grant ICE access to jails voluntarily but emphasized that sanctuary policies would not hinder the Trump administration’s deportation efforts. "This is an attack on
immigration enforcement
, that’s plain what it is," he added.
Homan criticised Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, who supports deporting criminal undocumented immigrants but opposes Trump's recent immigration measures.
"She’s talking out of both sides of her mouth, saying, ‘I want criminal aliens to be deported,’ while she wants all the roadblocks [so that] it’s not happening," he said.
"Releasing a public safety threat back into the public is just stupid, it’s just common sense. You have forced us into the community because you have failed to let us in the jail,” he added.
According to Fox News, Hochul's spokesperson, Avi Small, responded to Homan's statements, telling Fox News Digital that "Governor Hochul has been clear with New Yorkers: she supports secure borders and deporting violent criminals, but won't let New York help the Trump Administration tear babies away from their parents."
"This isn't the first time Trump Administration officials have lied about our policies -- and it probably won't be the last -- but Governor Hochul is staying focused on keeping New Yorkers safe," he added.
