Border Czar Tom Homan is out here letting everyone know that the Trump administration's immigration enforcement is going nationwide, and he is not being subtle about it. Homan told Newsmax that ICE officers racked up more than 10,000 arrests over just five days, a number reported by Trending Views that has not been independently verified but is certainly designed to send a message.
And what message would that be? Well, Homan summed it up with the kind of blunt clarity that has become his trademark: "I've always said, no one's off the table. If you're in the country illegally, we're looking for you." No ambiguity there. The man did not stutter.
Homan, who serves as the administration's border czar (a title that sounds like it came straight out of a Marvel movie but actually just means he oversees immigration enforcement and border security policy), said the administration is ramping up efforts to find and remove people living in the country illegally. He also took a swing at sanctuary city policies, which limit how much local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities. Those policies vary from city to city, but the general idea is that local cops are not required to play nice with ICE.
You can imagine how that sits with a guy whose entire job title is basically "find people and remove them."
ICE, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, is the agency actually doing the arresting and removing. They are the ones knocking on doors and processing paperwork while Homan goes on television and tells the country what is happening. It is a nice division of labor, really.
Supporters of the expanded enforcement strategy say it strengthens border security and public safety. Critics argue it could have a chilling effect on immigrant communities. Both sides are deeply committed to yelling past each other about it on social media, which is America's favorite pastime after football and arguing about football.
The 10,000 arrests figure is worth keeping an eye on. That number came from Homan himself, and as noted, nobody has independently confirmed it yet. Whether it holds up to scrutiny or gets adjusted later remains to be seen. But even if you knock a few thousand off for rounding enthusiasm, it is still a big number for five days of work.
One thing is clear: the administration wants everyone to know that enforcement is not limited to the border anymore. If you are in the country without legal status, the message from Homan is pretty straightforward. They are looking, and apparently they have been finding people at a pretty impressive clip.
Read more trending political news at: Trending Views
