Latest news with #Homan
Axios
11 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
Trump's border czar: Immigration raids at farms, hotels to continue
Following a week of immigration whiplash, President Trump's border czar Tom Homan confirmed Thursday that immigration raids will continue in the agriculture and hospitality industries. The big picture: The Trump administration last week said it was pausing some ICE raids that would hurt those industries, but Homan's comments reaffirm that it is reversing course. Zoom in: While workers at places like farms, restaurants and hotels will be targeted, people with criminal backgrounds will be a priority for immigration enforcement officials, Homan said. "We're going to continue to do worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first," Homan told reporters. What he's saying: Asked what he would say to farmers concerned the raids will hurt their jobs and the U.S. economy, Homan said, "Well, first of all, there's a right way and wrong way to hire workers. There are legal programs that bring farm workers in." He continued, "Second of all, I've been saying for years, Congress needs to address this. But because Congress failed, it just doesn't mean we ignore it. It's illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien." Catch up quick: Trump surprised immigration hardliners last week when his administration announced it would pause some immigration raids following concerns from advisers and Cabinet members that they were hurting the agriculture and hospitality industries. He acknowledged in a Truth Social post that his "very aggressive" policies were ripping longtime workers from jobs that are "almost impossible to replace." But on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security indicated it was reversing course and that farms, hotels and restaurants would again be subject to raids.
The Hill
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Border czar vows ‘worksite enforcement' at ‘farms and hotels' after Trump remarks
President Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Thursday Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would resume 'worksite enforcement' operations to ensure employees at farms and hotels are legally residing in the United States. 'I mean, we will concentrate on worksites on a prioritized basis just like we do at large operations,' Homan told reporters at the White House. 'We'll prioritize those who have a criminal nexus.' The border czar added that companies with a history of trafficking, forced labor, tax fraud and tax evasion would also be targeted in future ICE operations. His comments come days after the Trump administration reversed course on workplace raids at hotels, restaurants and farms. The White House previously issued a brief pause on sector specific raids citing concerns from business owners across the country. 'It's a matter of messaging, proper messaging. The message is clear now. That we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels,' Homan said Thursday. 'But based on prioritized basis, criminals come first,' he added. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) echoed similar sentiments earlier this week. 'There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE's efforts,' Tricia McLaughlin, DHS' assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a Tuesday statement. 'Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safe guard public safety, national security and economic stability. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation,' she added. However, President Trump noted that ICE may attempt to adjust immigration policies for service workers last week. 'Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace…,' the president wrote in a Thursday Truth Social post. 'This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!' he added. DHS officials said they would follow the White House's lead in regards to removals and detainments. 'We will follow the president's direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America's streets,' DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said. Groups across the country have been organizing protests in response to the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants. The president sent National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles to quell violent demonstrations regarding the detainment of dozens.
NBC News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump's border czar says worksite immigration raids will continue, but that criminals will be prioritized
WASHINGTON — White House border czar Tom Homan said Thursday that the Trump administration will continue to conduct immigration raids at worksites, including farms and hotels, but that criminals will be prioritized. Speaking to reporters, Homan clarified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's policy at worksites after the Department of Homeland Security said this week it was reversing recent guidance that called for a pause on operations at those places. 'The message is clear now that we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first,' Homan said. The Trump administration is focusing resources on so-called sanctuary cities, Homan said, because 'they knowingly release public safety threats, illegal aliens to the community every day.' When asked why ICE directed its agents last week to hold off on investigations of farms and hotels, Homan dodged the question saying, "Worksite enforcement operations is an important part of the work we do." Homan said in an interview with Fox Business Thursday that "a lot of worksite enforcement operations are "based on criminal information, criminal investigations such as forced labor, such as trafficking and such as ... tax fraud and money laundering." ICE's Homeland Security Investigations team paused immigration enforcement actions last week at worksites tied to the agriculture industry including meat-packing plants and fisheries as well as restaurants and hotels, according to an internal policy memo that was sent by a senior ICE official and obtained by NBC News. But on Tuesday, DHS reversed this guidance, with spokesperson Tricia Mclaughlin saying "there will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE's efforts." DHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Homan's latest remarks. Los Angeles is among the sanctuary cities where ICE has ramped up its immigration raids, which prompted numerous protests in recent weeks. President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to respond to these demonstrations, drawing widespread criticism from Democrats. Vice President JD Vance may visit Los Angeles this week, with a source with knowledge of federal law enforcement operations telling NBC News that planning is underway. California National Guard units federalized by Trump have been involved in planning for a visit by a high-level federal official, another source said. Vance's travel plans are not final and subject to change due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'It's illegal to knowingly hire illegal alien': Trump's border czar defends ICE farm raids; says there's 'right way to hire workers'
(Photo credit: AP) US Border czar Tom Homan has doubled down on the renewed ICE raids targeting farms, hotels, and other workplaces, saying there is a 'right way and wrong way' to hire workers. Speaking at the White House, Homan defended the enforcement actions, emphasising that 'First of all, there's a right way and wrong way to hire workers. There are legal programs that bring farm workers in. ' 'Second of all, I've been saying for years, Congress needs to address this,' he added. He stressed that inaction by lawmakers does not justify illegal hiring practices. 'Just because Congress failed, it just doesn't mean we ignore it. It's illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien,' Homan said. Homan made it clear that the Trump administration would proceed with worksite enforcement operations. "The message is clear now that we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis,' he asserted. 'Criminals come first,' Homan noted. The Trump administration has resumed a tougher approach to workplace immigration enforcement this week, restarting ICE raids at farms, hotels, and restaurants after a brief pause. The return to aggressive action came after internal pushback from top officials, including senior adviser Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE enforcement head Tom Homan, highlighting the ongoing confusion around the policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The White House argues that undocumented workers lower wages and take jobs from American citizens. However, leaders in the farming and hospitality industries have warned that mass deportations could cause serious disruptions, as many of these workers perform essential roles that are difficult to fill with domestic labor. Undocumented immigrants are a significant part of the workforce across multiple sectors, including hospitality, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. They are found nationwide — from blue states like California and New Jersey to red states like Texas, Florida, and Nevada, which have some of the largest populations of unauthorized workers. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, an estimated 14 million undocumented immigrants were living in the US as of 2024.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration seeing record-low border encounters: Homan
President Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Tuesday the administration saw a historic number of low encounters at the border. 'In the last 24 hours the Border Patrol encountered a total of 95 illegal aliens across the entire southern border. That is the lowest number EVER recorded,' Homan wrote in a statement on X. He said none of the immigrants were released after being apprehended while lauding the Trump administration for working to create the 'most secure border' in the nation's history. 'To continue this great work and make it more permanent, we need the Big Beautiful Bill passed so we can finish the job, to include the biggest deportation operation the American people voted for,' Homan wrote on Tuesday. 'God bless the men and women of CBP and ICE. President Trump is the Game Changer,' he added. The House-approved spending package is expected to add $4 trillion to the national debt, but will also provide the border with additional manpower from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Currently, the bill is awaiting a final vote in the Senate but remains battle-tested with concerns from Republican and Democratic lawmakers regarding Medicaid work requirements outlined in the legislation.
