Border Czar Tom Homan appeared on ESPN’s “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Friday to address the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and explain why deportations cannot be limited solely to illegal aliens who commit additional crimes after entering the United States.
During the interview, host Stephen A. Smith asked Homan to respond to criticism that deportation efforts under President Donald Trump have not focused enough on what some have called “the worst of the worst.”
Smith said there is a perception among many Americans that the administration is targeting illegal aliens who are not criminals, including individuals taken from workplaces or schools.
“[W]hat folks on the left and folks that are just average American citizens are pointing out is that they don’t see that enough of that is happening,” Smith said.
Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement
MORE NEWS: Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Intel Chief, Citing Husband’s Cancer as Trump Praises Her Service
“That quote-unquote innocent civilians in this country that happen to be in this country are the ones being targeted, where you’re going to a school or you’re going to their workplace or what have you, and you’re taking them away in an effort to deport them. What do you say to that?”
Homan rejected the narrative, stating that reports of widespread raids on schools and churches are false.
He reiterated that public safety and national security threats remain a priority under current enforcement guidelines, but emphasized that immigration law must still be enforced for all illegal aliens, regardless of whether they have committed additional crimes.
“[W]e are prioritizing public safety threats. That’s why the majority of people we arrest are criminals. The majority of people we’re detaining are criminals. That’s just a fact. But just because we’re prioritizing public safety threats doesn’t mean everybody else gets a pass,” Homan said.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
He warned that sending a message to the world that illegal entry into the U.S. would be tolerated so long as additional crimes are not committed would only further undermine border security.
“Because if the message we want to send, Stephen, to the whole world is: you can enter the country illegally, it’s a crime, don’t worry about it. You can show up in court or not show up in court and get a final order of deportation from a federal judge — don’t worry about it. As long as you don’t commit another crime, you’re home free,” he said.
“That’s not the message we’ve got to send to the whole world. Because if you do that, you’re never going to fix the issue. People are going to realize: ‘I can get to the United States, I can cheat the system and make a false asylum claim. I’ll later be ordered removed, but I never got to leave because I didn’t commit another crime beyond illegal entry.’”
Homan argued that the lack of enforcement against non-criminal illegal aliens sends the wrong signal and creates incentives for more illegal crossings.
He also said that this undermines those who follow the legal immigration process.
“So when you don’t enforce law and you don’t show consequences, people feel welcome to come across. It overwhelms the Border Patrol. Now they’re dealing with this humanitarian crisis, but their national security job — it’s fractured because they created gaps in the system,” Homan said.
“Because there are areas of the border where there’s not a single green uniform because they’re busy changing diapers, making baby formula, you know, and making hospital runs — whatever is required.”
“It’s important we send a message to the whole world: there’s a right way and a wrong way to come to this country,” he added.
🚨NEW: Tom Homan tells Stephen A. Smith why Trump Admin *CAN'T* only deport criminals🚨"When you don't enforce the law and you don't show consequences, people feel welcome to come across. It overwhelms the Border Patrol.""We cannot support illegal activity. We just can't do… pic.twitter.com/T0pgKsqw8K
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) July 25, 2025
Data released by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) supports the shift in enforcement under President Trump. CBP confirmed on July 15 that Border Patrol agents released zero illegal aliens into the interior of the United States in June, marking the second consecutive month with no such releases.
This marks a significant departure from the policies under Joe Biden.
According to CBP data, 62,000 illegal aliens were released into the U.S. in May 2024, followed by an additional 27,766 in June 2024 during the final months of the Biden-Harris administration.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.
Go Tom Go!
There are NO innocent illegals. The word illegal alien is very self explanatory.. llegals means illegal period. They have broken american immigration laws and will get a one way trip back to the 4th world . Go Big Tom. !!!
Only the left is outraged when you point out the error of using “innocent” and “illegal” in the same sentence.
There is no innocent illegals as the fact they entered this country illegally is a crime and they also don’t have any rights citizens are afforded by the Constitution. We understand those who come and truly desire being a American(not those whom wanna sup be American but wanna make this nation like the 1 they left) but there is a right way to do it and majority of us welcome those that respect our laws and process and do it that way. And those that don’t and aren’t “criminals” in terms of what most crimes that when someone is labeled criminal u think of first and contrary to what our garbage media says we don’t hate those whom are good people but it is disrespectful and those that have no problem with this can we expect you to accept someone that walks into your house and sets up shop uninvited? Would you cover their food costs? Healthcare costs etc etc as its what tax payers are supposed to do on a larger scale. I think we know the answer and it starts with N and ends with O. And whats really bad and shameful is those whom are most vocal and have the energy to stopping deportations never dedicate the same for our Veterans and its REPULSIVE!