Staff Reports
The borders of the United States have seen quite a rollercoaster ride in the past few years, and if one were to ask Tom Homan, a former acting director of ICE, the story would start with a sharp turn after Donald Trump took office. When Trump was elected, he didn’t just enter the White House with a smile; he brought along a strong stance on border security that he believed could make America safe again. According to Homan, it was a complete transformation. The number of illegal immigrants entering the country dropped dramatically once Trump put his plan into action, and Homan claims that in just seven weeks, the U.S. saw the most secure border in its history.
Before Trump, under the previous administration led by Joe Biden, illegal immigration numbers surged, reaching historic highs. Homan pointed out that about 10.5 million people crossed into the U.S. illegally during that time. Trump’s arrival was like flipping a switch, as he managed to halt that alarming trend. This was no small feat—Homan has been working in border security for over 40 years, and even he noted that the country had never experienced such low numbers of illegal crossings as it did during Trump’s administration. However, it seems the political drama around the borders didn’t stop with Trump’s policies.
Looking ahead, one can only wonder what might have happened if Kamala Harris had taken the reins. Homan indicated that under her administration, the situation at the southern border would have spiraled even further out of control. He painted a grim picture, suggesting that the damage inflicted during Biden’s term would take a decade to fix, exacerbated by more illegal entrants flocking to the border. The former ICE director asserted that Harris’s proposed policies would have only opened the floodgates wider, making it nearly impossible to restore security.
In the midst of all this, political critics like Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin have called attention to the current border policies, claiming they have been disastrous and claiming that border control efforts feel more like oppression than enforcement. Homan was quick to counter these accusations. He referred to Senator Slotkin’s comments as uninformed and stressed that the real concern should be the safety and security of American citizens. He highlighted that under Biden’s watch, illegal activities such as sex trafficking and drug smuggling significantly increased, while Trump’s tough measures successfully reduced the occurrences of these grave crimes.
Homan provided a stark reminder of the real statistics behind the border crisis, including the unfortunate number of children lost to traffickers during the previous administration. He argued that while critics were demanding change, they failed to realize the complexities of the situation and the consequences of loose policies that allowed criminal activity to thrive. He expressed pride in the actions taken during the Trump administration, emphasizing how steps were taken to protect citizens and secure the nation.
As the discussions around immigration and border security continue, it’s clear that there are sharply contrasting views on what constitutes effective policy. Those who advocate for stricter security measures argue that it is about the safety of American families, while others, like Senator Slotkin, contend that this approach can infringe on human rights. Homan stood firm in his belief that the current state of border security is a reflection of the American people’s desires for a safe country, and he remains resolute in promoting the successes that he claims have come from tough but necessary policies.
