Trump’s Border Czar Critiques Virginia Governor
Tom Homan, who serves as President Donald Trump’s border czar, has taken aim at Virginia’s Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger over her handling of detainment requests from federal immigration officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under Spanberger’s leadership, Virginia has reportedly not been cooperating with these requests.
In an exclusive chat with Fox News Digital, Homan mentioned that if Spanberger continues her lack of cooperation, the border czar’s office is ready to “deploy more teams on the streets.” He argued that elections come with consequences and noted how Spanberger, a former law enforcement officer, seems to have changed since taking office.
“When the president sent me to Minneapolis to encourage more cooperation, I wish she would have at least read a bit about the issues there,” Homan specified, claiming that the situation could have been safer for the community.
He emphasized that ICE will not stop enforcing immigration law, stating that if states like Virginia maintain their strict sanctuary policies, more immigration agents will be sent out into neighborhoods. “We’re just going to get more teams out on the streets,” he said, adding that the mission is to keep the country safe, particularly from illegal immigrants who have committed further crimes.
Recently, a poll revealed that 46% of Virginians disapprove of Spanberger’s job performance, which is the lowest level of approval for a Virginia governor since 1994. Spanberger acknowledged the high disapproval ratings but insisted that the only poll that ultimately matters is the election, which she won decisively.
In early February, Spanberger took executive action to halt cooperation with federal immigration authorities and also ended the 287(g) program. This program allowed state and local law enforcement to enforce certain immigration duties while under ICE supervision.
Homan criticized the release of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes without notifying ICE, deeming it “ridiculous.” He pointed out that local authorities are opting to release these individuals rather than alert ICE, which he argues jeopardizes public safety.
Furthermore, Homan believes that the Department of Justice may have a strong case against sanctuary jurisdictions and sees them as potentially illegal. He remarked that these sanctuary policies lead to fewer officers on the streets due to the restrictions placed on law enforcement.
On the topic of fulfilling border security promises, Homan stated the focus remains on deporting criminal immigrants first. But he was clear that individuals who are in the country illegally are still at risk of arrest and deportation regardless of their criminal status. “If we find you, we will arrest you and deport you,” he said.
Homan has held his position since the beginning of the Trump administration, and with the recent appointment of Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary, he expressed confidence in Mullin’s capabilities, stating he speaks with him frequently and believes he is well-suited for the role. Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger for a response but received no comment by deadline.
