During a CNN segment, former acting ICE Director Tom Homan provided insight into the current immigration enforcement operation under the Biden-Harris administration.

Speaking with host Dana Bash, Homan emphasized that the initiative focuses on criminal aliens but highlighted the challenges posed by sanctuary cities.

Nov 8, 2023; Miami, FL, USA; CNN anchor Dana Bash interviews RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel after the Republican National Committee presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Mandatory Credit: Greg Lovett-USA TODAY

Homan explained that the primary focus of the operation is individuals with criminal records.

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However, he pointed out that sanctuary policies often restrict ICE officers from accessing local jails to apprehend these individuals safely.

This limitation forces ICE to conduct community searches, increasing the likelihood of collateral arrests.

“That’s the target of this operation,” Homan said, referring to those with criminal records.

“But like I said, many times, in places like sanctuary cities where we can’t arrest a bad person in the jail, we would like to have access to the jail to arrest a criminal alien in the safety and security of a county jail which is safer for the community, safer for the officers, safer for the alien. But when you release a public safety threat of a sanctuary jail and won’t give us access to him, that means we got to go to the neighborhood and find him, and we will find him.”

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Homan clarified that when ICE targets a criminal alien in the community, others present without legal status may also be apprehended.

“When we find him, he may be with others. Others that don’t have a criminal conviction are in the country illegally, they will be arrested too, because we’re not going to strike,” Homan stated.

He contrasted the approach with the previous administration, emphasizing, “This administration ISIS is going to enforce the immigration law. There’s nothing in the iron and Immigration Nationality Act says you got to be convicted of a serious crime in order to be removed from this country. So there’s going to be more collateral arrests in sanctuary cities because they forced us to go in the community.”

Bash pressed Homan to confirm whether undocumented individuals without criminal records could also be detained.

“Let me just make sure that I understand what you’re saying,” Bash asked.

“Because at first you said that the first targets are those with criminal records, but you are also saying that those who are undocumented in the US also who don’t have criminal records, people who are working in their communities, maybe even have spouses who are American citizens, they could be swept up with ICE today as well?”

Homan reiterated, “What I’m telling you is, when we go find our priority target, which is a criminal alien, if he’s with others in the United States illegally, we’re going to take enforcement action against him. We’re going to force immigration law.”

Bash further inquired about the process after an arrest. Homan detailed the steps ICE takes, including detention and coordination with host countries for deportation.

“They’re taken to an ICE office and their process and put in detention. While they’re in detention, ICE officers work on travel documents. The host country sends travel documents saying, ‘Yeah, this is our citizen. This is our national.’ Then we make flight arrangements, so they could be in detention from a few days for a few weeks until that removal [is] made,” Homan explained.

Addressing the issue of recalcitrant countries that refuse to accept deportees, Homan noted the administration’s efforts to negotiate compliance.

“We have various plans other countries are willing to take them. We have 30 safe country removals,” he said.

“I think you’re going to see less of the recalcitrant countries. Countries don’t take their citizens back under this President because this president has vowed that these countries will take them back.”

Homan’s comments shed light on the operational challenges and policy priorities shaping current immigration enforcement efforts.

Sanctuary city policies and noncompliant countries remain key obstacles, but the administration’s stance suggests a more assertive approach to enforcing immigration laws.

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