On Saturday, Tom Homan, a former border official, pushed back against claims that he accepted $50,000 in cash linked to a contract award last September. When questioned about the allegations by NewsNation’s Libbey Dean, Homan dismissed the report, calling it “a bunch of nonsense.”
According to MSNBC, Homan was allegedly recorded accepting the money from an agent pretending to be a businessman during a covert investigation from the previous year. The report references multiple sources and internal documents suggesting that Homan indicated agents could assist in securing federal contracts during the second Trump administration.
MSNBC cited six sources familiar with the matter, stating that the FBI and Justice Department looked into whether Homan followed through on his claims, but the investigation stalled after Trump won the election. The report noted that the inquiry was later closed by appointees of Trump.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche shared in a statement that the issues arose during prior administrations and underwent a thorough review. They concluded that there was no credible evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Others in the Trump administration echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the investigation was politically motivated. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended Homan, stating he had no role in contract decisions and highlighting his extensive background in law enforcement and public service, suggesting the Biden administration was targeting him unfairly.
Homan has been a central figure in Trump’s immigration policies, emphasizing aggressive deportation strategies nationwide. Under his watch, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted raids in various locations, including churches and workplaces, to apprehend individuals living in the country illegally.
While CoreCivic has contracted private firms like GEO Group, where Homan previously worked, to manage ICE detention centers, there are ongoing efforts to accelerate the establishment of new facilities in Florida and other states.
Since the onset of Trump’s second term, GOP lawmakers have proposed a bounty program incentivizing the pursuit of undocumented immigrants ahead of the mid-term elections in 2026. There’s also been lobbying for the use of authorized civil aircraft to aid in the removal of undocumented migrants.
