States that are willing to help could work with the federal government to patrol the southwest border and even arrest illegal immigrants.
EAGLE PASS, Texas—Incoming border czar Tom Homan has made it clear that states such as Texas are about to have an ally in the White House when it comes to securing the U.S. southern border.
Homan and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised a new era of cooperation between the federal government and states eager to secure the border as President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan takes shape. The two served early Thanksgiving meals to Texas Department of Public Safety law enforcement and Texas National Guard members last week.
“The first morning I woke up with a smile on my face was the day after the election when President Trump won because he’s going to come back. He’s going to finish the job he started,” said Homan, the former acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ideas floated by Trump and Homan so far include quickly rolling back policies from the Biden administration, issuing a national emergency declaration and using the military to assist in deportations, reinstating executive orders from Trump’s first administration, activating the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, defunding NGOs, and partnering with willing states.
Homan praised the Texas model of border enforcement over the past four years, which included erecting fencing and razor wire along the border, placing barriers in the Rio Grande, and building its own border wall. Texas recently offered the incoming administration a 1,400-acre ranch to use as a deportation hub.
Homan said the sheer number of unvetted illegal immigrants crossing the border has also created a threat to national security that must be addressed.
He said the illegal immigrants who evade capture, known as gotaways, aren’t counted in the 10.8 million illegal immigrant encounters documented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection since 2021 are particularly concerning because they don’t want to get caught.
“If you don’t think a single one of the 2 million that came from a country sponsor of terror aren’t coming to do us harm, then you’re an idiot,” Homan said.
