During a recent White House briefing, Tom Homan, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), made significant claims regarding the Biden administration's approach to border security. Homan asserted that President Joe Biden is the first president in U.S. history to intentionally leave the border unsecured. He contrasted Biden's policies with those of President Donald Trump, stating that unlawful crossings during Trump's presidency were at "historically low" levels, making the border the most secure it has ever been.
Homan emphasized that all previous presidents, including Democrats like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, took border security seriously, linking it to national security. He criticized Biden's immigration policies, suggesting they are designed to facilitate future political advantages for the Democratic Party by potentially granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.
In his remarks, Homan provided stark statistics to illustrate the differences in border security under the two administrations. He claimed that between 11,000 and 15,000 individuals were crossing the border illegally per day under Biden, compared to just 178 daily crossings reported under Trump. Additionally, he noted that the number of individuals who evaded apprehension, referred to as “gotaways,” significantly increased during Biden's term.
Homan also highlighted that, from January 20 to April 1, 2024, the Biden administration had released 184,000 individuals from federal custody, contrasting this with the Trump administration's release of only nine. He stated that the Trump administration prioritized the deportation of individuals charged with crimes, with a total of 139,000 deportations reported during that administration.
Finally, Homan addressed the recent arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who is alleged to have assisted an illegal immigrant in evading ICE, underscoring his stance on legal accountability for those who obstruct immigration enforcement.