Trump’s border chief Tom Homan promises to navigate around Virginia Governor Spanberger’s order ending ICE collaboration.

Border Secretary’s Commitment Amid Resistance

Tom Homan, the White House Border Secretary, has asserted that the Trump administration will continue its deportation efforts, despite pushback from Virginia’s newly elected Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger.

Spanberger, often seen as a moderate Democrat during her campaign last year, stirred controversy this week by issuing an executive order directing local and state law enforcement not to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On the “Ruthless” podcast, Homan expressed surprise at the shift in Spanberger’s stance since her gubernatorial campaign. He recalled her campaign ad where she highlighted her background in law enforcement and her efforts to rescue children from sex trafficking.

“I’m a resident of Virginia and remember her saying, ‘I’m a law enforcement officer. I rescued children from sex trafficking.’ And now, on her very first day in office, it’s like she’s switched roles,” Homan remarked. “Where are all those commercials about supporting law enforcement and rescuing children?”

Homan emphasized that the current administration has already located 130,000 missing children, many of whom were victims of sex trafficking. Unlike the previous administration, he noted, they are actively dismantling trafficking rings and pursuing criminal aliens, underscoring the urgent need for law enforcement cooperation.

He also mentioned, with evident frustration, that some of the individuals they have apprehended, particularly in Minnesota, are serious criminals, including child predators. “She seems different now compared to when she ran,” he said.

While Homan acknowledged Spanberger’s past contributions, he felt that she had forgotten those values upon taking office. “I hope we can collaborate, but it doesn’t look promising,” he added.

When asked about bypassing Spanberger’s executive order regarding ICE, Homan was confident. “We will get around it,” he stated, explaining that they’ve faced similar obstacles in states like New York, California, Oregon, and Illinois, which often don’t cooperate with ICE. “This makes our job tougher, requiring us to allocate more resources,” he explained.

He further described the ideal scenario where local authorities could provide access to individuals in custody, ensuring that those who are in the country illegally could be efficiently processed by ICE. Without that cooperation, he lamented, the agency must deploy larger teams to track down suspects.

“From day one, I’ve been clear: we’ll be increasing our presence in sanctuary cities because they’ve released public safety threats into the communities,” Homan stated emphatically.

He concluded by asserting that the administration would not be deterred. “They’re not going to stop us. They can watch all they want, but it won’t halt our mission,” he insisted.