Tom Homan, often referred to as the “border emperor,” shared two troubling human trafficking cases during an interview with podcaster Shawn Ryan on “The Shawn Ryan Show,” which aired on Thursday.
On November 11, 2024, former acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), Homan was announced by President Donald Trump as the “border emperor.”
One incident that deeply affected him involved a 9-year-old girl, part of a small group that suffered repeated assaults at the hands of a member of a well-known cartel. Homan expressed the emotional weight of this experience, saying, “It’s hard to maintain toughness when sitting next to a little girl who has lost her faith in humanity.”
Homan noted that the girl’s life had been irrevocably altered by the trauma she endured.
Having appeared in various media platforms, often criticizing Trump’s border security and immigration policies, Homan recounted a pivotal experience from 2003 in Victoria, Texas, triggered by a phone call he received while making a speech.
When he arrived at the scene, he learned that 19 individuals had tragically died in a tractor-trailer. Homan described the grisly scene, recalling how he encountered bodies as efforts were made to pull them from the truck in desperation for air. Among the deceased, he spotted a little boy, partly concealed by his father, who was trying to protect him.
The boy wore the same color of underwear as Homan’s own son, which hit him hard. This moment gave Homan a protective instinct, leading him to take over the investigation as additional support arrived.
His encounters and experiences have fueled his passionate responses to critics of Trump’s immigration policies. Homan recounted a testimony phase where he felt anger over accusations suggesting he lacked compassion for dying children. “They should have walked in my shoes,” he said, reflecting on the heartbreaking sights he had witnessed throughout his career. “I knelt beside the child and offered a prayer.”
