Prairie State Wire

Tom Homan, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and newly appointed Border Czar under Donald Trump, recently appeared on The Charlie Kirk Show. During the show, Homan responded to comments made by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who warned against any efforts to challenge the rights and freedoms of Illinois residents.

“Anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans. I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior,” Pritzker said at the press conference. “You come for my people. You come through me.”

Homan, however, made it clear that his team at ICE would not be deterred by such threats. He emphasized that enforcing the nation’s immigration laws would remain a top priority, regardless of any political opposition.

“Game on. We got no problem going through him,” Homan said. “I got 20,000 men and women in ICE who are going to do their job with no apology.”

Homan underscored that entering the United States illegally is a criminal act, and he stressed that all individuals who enter the country unlawfully are committing a crime. Beyond the legal violations, he pointed out the broader consequences of illegal immigration, including the overwhelming of border patrol resources, the influx of dangerous substances like fentanyl, and a dramatic rise in human trafficking. He also highlighted concerns about national security, citing an increase in the number of individuals on terrorist watch lists crossing the border.

The Border Czar made it clear that immigration enforcement is not just about upholding the law but also protecting the safety and well-being of the American public. He reinforced that ICE is committed to its mission and will continue to enforce immigration laws without apology. Homan also stated that once Trump returns to office, a full-scale effort to secure the border will be underway, and any state or local government that tries to stand in the way of federal enforcement will face serious challenges.

“We'll see what happens. I'm not going to be intimidated. The men and women of ICE ain't going to be intimidated,” Homan said. “We're going to do our job the way President Trump has committed to the American people. We have a mandate and we're going to do it.”

The Biden-Harris administration’s bipartisan border security bill, introduced in the Senate, aimed to address critical issues such as border security, asylum processing, and immigration reform. However, the bill became highly contentious, with significant opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. According to the Washington Examiner, critics argued that the bill did not adequately address key concerns such as border enforcement and instead offered provisions that would expand illegal immigration, such as codifying catch-and-release policies, providing work permits and legal aid to illegal immigrants, and offering de facto amnesty to millions. Additionally, the bill included significant funding for foreign aid to Ukraine, which detracted from its focus on domestic border issues. 

The bill was ultimately killed in the Senate after a motion to proceed was narrowly defeated, with Senate Republicans and Democrats alike rejecting the measure

According to data from the Cook County Clerk's office and the Illinois State Board of Elections, in the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump received about 134,746 votes in Chicago. This represented approximately 12.4% of the total votes cast in the city. In the 2024 presidential election, he received around 22% of the vote in Chicago, according to Block Club Chicago.

Tom Homan is a former acting director of ICE and an advocate for strong border security. With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Homan held various leadership positions within ICE. He has become a vocal figure in the debate over immigration policy and border security, serving as a key advisor on these issues under the Trump administration.