Tom Homan, a seasoned immigration official and Trump’s "border czar," has been sent to Minneapolis to manage immigration enforcement after a DHS surge tied to two deaths. Homan’s résumé includes senior enforcement roles under both Democratic and Republican administrations, a Presidential Rank Award, and involvement in policies that led to thousands of family separations. He has used forceful rhetoric, faced a 2024 allegation of accepting cash that the White House called an entrapment attempt, and now promises a "targeted," by-the-book approach in Minnesota. His appointment is praised by some Republicans but remains controversial given his record.
What to Know About Tom Homan, Trump’s New Immigration Lead in Minneapolis
Tom Homan, White House border czar, during a news conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul, Minnesota, US, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Homan said the Trump administration will scale down operations in Minnesota and conduct targeted anti-immigration actions. Photographer: Ben Brewer/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Donald Trump has dispatched Tom Homan — the administration’s so-called "border czar" — to oversee immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis after a Department of Homeland Security surge to the city was linked to the killing of two residents. Supporters framed Homan as a steadier, more experienced choice than his predecessor; critics say his record and rhetoric make him a controversial pick.
Background and Career
Homan is a long-time federal immigration official who rose through pre-ICE agencies and earned national prominence during the Obama administration. In 2013 he became ICE’s director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, a period when deportations were especially high; the Obama years saw more than 400,000 removals in 2013. Homan received the 2015 Presidential Rank Award, the civil service honor ICE described as recognizing sustained public service.
Policies, Controversies, and Rhetoric
Homan played a prominent role in enforcement strategies that contributed to family separations — the policy that led to thousands of children being taken from their parents in 2018. He has defended aggressive enforcement as a deterrent to dangerous migration journeys, while acknowledging that reunification efforts could have been handled better.
"If you’re in the country illegally, you shouldn’t be comfortable," Homan said in a widely reported comment about undocumented immigrants, adding in later interviews that he stood by that language.
Homan has also used confrontational rhetoric in public settings. Examples include a 2019 recounting of an emotional congressional exchange and threats to "bring hell" to jurisdictions that would not cooperate with federal immigration agents. At the same time he has asserted that asylum seekers have legal rights and defended due process in principle.
Allegations and Internal Disputes
In 2024 an allegation surfaced that Homan accepted $50,000 in cash delivered in a paper bag from undercover operatives posing as contractors; the White House and Justice Department publicly characterized the incident as an attempted entrapment. Homan has denied ties to white supremacist groups or far-right militias. Reported tensions with other senior officials, including disputes over style and contracts with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have also colored his profile.
What He’s Promising in Minneapolis
Arriving in Minnesota, Homan has emphasized a "targeted," "by-the-book" approach and said his main focus is a draw-down of large-scale operations after conversations with state and local leaders. Supporters — including several Republican senators — welcomed his deployment as a stabilizing move. Critics warn that his history of aggressive enforcement and involvement in controversial policies make him a polarizing choice.
Homan’s appointment underscores a broader pattern in recent years: when compared with more combative figures, a controversial official can be framed as relatively moderate. That comparison matters for how the public and local leaders evaluate the potential impact of his tenure in Minneapolis.
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