Who is Donald Trump’s new border czar Tom Homan?

Immigration official Thomas Douglas Home has served under both Presidents Obama and Trump.

In his second administration, Trump appointed the controversial official—who once advised illegal immigrants to “be afraid”—to be his border czar.

Early career

Tom was born in West Carthage, New York, and earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Jefferson Community College.

He started working as a police officer after graduating from SUNY Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree.

He started working for the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1984. Later, it was divided into three organizations, one of which being Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In 2013, he was named executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations at ICE by President Barack Obama.

A year later, Tom started to make the case that, in order to discourage immigrants from attempting to join the United States, children should be separated from their parents when they cross the border.

In 2015, Barack Obama presented him with a Presidential Rank Award in spite of his remarks.

From Obama to Trump

Tom was named acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by President Donald Trump on January 30, 2017.

Tom said in May of the same year that between the day of the inauguration and April of 2017, ICE has apprehended 41,319 persons.

He went on to say that illegal immigrants ought to be wary.

He went farther with his stance in April 2018.

He recommended that the Secretary of Homeland Security enact a zero tolerance immigration policy that would lead to family dissolution and the prosecution of parents.

He made the decision to leave his job only two months later, although he has continued to be involved in politics.

The Heritage Foundation

In 2022, Tom became a member of the Heritage Foundation and helped with Project 2025, which was a wish list for a Trump administration.

Project 2025 backs:

• The entire federal bureaucracy, including the Department of Justice, being placed under presidential control.
• The elimination of visa categories for crime and human trafficking victims.
• Increased funding for Donald Trump s border wall.
• The dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security to create a tougher force.
• Increased fees on immigrants.
• Slashing federal spending on renewable energy.
• A ban on pornography.
• A ban on the terms sexual orientation , reproductive rights and abortion from laws and federal regulations.
• Withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market.
• The Department of Health and Human Services taking a “biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family”.

Trump 2.0

Trump declared his intention to appoint Tom as his second administration’s border czar on November 10, 2024.

One of the main concerns for American voters is immigration, which was a campaign subject for Trump.

Trump claimed that immigrants were consuming Springfield, Ohio, residents’ pets and dogs during his debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Trump has also stated that, in spite of the huge financial costs involved, he intends to deport millions of illegal immigrants.

However, Tom had previously stated that he intended to lead the largest deportation force this nation had ever seen, just months before Trump was elected.

Elon Musk, a tech tycoon, was given a government job by Trump, making Tom one of his least surprise choices.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk will lead, aims to reduce the size of the government.

Musk’s preferred cryptocurrency, Dogecoin, is referred to by the moniker DOGE, which is based on an internet meme.

Despite backlash against her views on Syria and Ukraine, Trump has also selected Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence.