Tom Homan, President Trump’s border chief, is doubling down on plans to crack down on sanctuary cities. He says ICE will keep deporting criminal migrants even if liberal leaders try to block them. Homan warned cities like New York and Boston that resisting federal immigration laws will backfire.
Homan blasted New York’s laws that stop police from working with ICE. He said releasing criminals instead of handing them over puts everyone in danger. “You’re forcing us into your communities,” he said. ICE will send more agents if needed, and “collateral arrests” of other illegal immigrants will rise. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul claims she wants violent criminals deported, but Homan called her a hypocrite for blocking ICE access.
In Boston, Homan targeted Police Commissioner Michael Cox. He accused Cox of putting politics over public safety by refusing to help ICE. “Take that badge off,” Homan said. “You forgot what it’s like to be a cop.” He vowed to bring “hell” to Boston with more ICE raids. Recent operations there led to 370 arrests, mostly criminals but others too. Homan says sanctuary policies create more arrests, not fewer.
Mayor Michelle Wu fired back, calling Boston the “safest major city” with record-low crime. She said trust between police and immigrants keeps communities safe. But Homan argues that trust lets criminals hide. He pointed to cases where ICE had to re-arrest predators released by local jails. “Releasing them is just stupid,” he said.
Homan says sanctuary cities like Boston and New York release dangerous people instead of letting ICE deport them. This forces federal agents to hunt criminals in neighborhoods instead of jails. When ICE finds a target, they’ll arrest others living illegally too. “Collateral arrests will increase,” Homan warned. He called it common sense to remove all illegal immigrants, not just criminals.
The Trump administration is shifting resources to target sanctuary zones first. Homan said these cities are the “most dangerous” because they shield bad actors. States like Massachusetts have eight sanctuary cities, but Gov. Maura Healey insists they’re not a “sanctuary state.” Homan says words don’t matter—actions do. If local laws block ICE, federal agents will ramp up presence.
Democrat leaders say they’re protecting families, but Homan calls it political theater. He says following the law shouldn’t be controversial. “It’s not OK to violate our laws,” he said. With Congress’s support, ICE aims to deport as many as possible, starting with threats to public safety. Funding limits how many they can remove, but Homan vowed to keep pushing.
The battle lines are clear. Homan and the Trump team won’t let liberal policies stop deportations. “We’re going to do our job,” he said. Sanctuary cities can either cooperate or face more ICE raids. As the 2025 crackdown expands, Homan’s message is simple: enforcing immigration law isn’t optional—it’s necessary to protect America.
