Tom Homan, often referred to as the “Border Emperor,” shared in a discussion with columnist Miranda Devine that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were deployed to Los Angeles to combat drug cartel funding issues.
In a recent episode of “Podforce One,” Homan discussed a significant clash in Los Angeles related to ICE enforcement this month. Agents were executing criminal arrest warrants tied to “money laundering, tax evasion,” and other crimes linked to cartels. They ended up apprehending “child predators, rapists, and murderers,” among others.
Homan noted that there is a strong belief that some of the funds from these criminal activities have been funneled to Mexico and Colombia to support cartel operations. He described the situation as a serious criminal investigation that potentially involved “millions of dollars” in cartel revenue, yet the left quickly became engrossed in the narrative.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, have denounced ICE’s actions, which reportedly led to the arrests of over five gang members and more than 100 undocumented immigrants facing various charges, including child abuse and robbery.
Reflecting on the reactions to the operations, Homan recalled how many labeled ICE as racist, mentioning that even council members joined in with Newsom and Bass. “The truth was we saw who we arrested. Look at the warrants we served,” he emphasized.
Newsom characterized the ICE operations as a “massive workplace raid” during a Primetime address shared on his X account on June 11.
The governor remarked that citizens in Los Angeles have exercised their constitutional rights to protest against the government’s actions. He added that law enforcement continued to work towards maintaining peace, despite some exceptions.
Financially, the aftermath of the riot could cost Los Angeles taxpayers around $20 million for police overtime and repairs to city property, according to reports.
Initially, Trump had dispatched 2,000 National Guard members to the area, amid accusations of “abuse of power” as images of rioters emerged online, displaying acts like setting a police car on fire.
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Following these events, Newsom’s administration filed a lawsuit against Trump regarding the deployment of National Guard troops, although an appeals court ultimately ruled in favor of the Trump administration.
Homan created a stir by suggesting that Newsom and Bass could face criminal charges for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement efforts.
He stated, “We’re attempting to halt the actions of cartels that are harming Americans. We aim to remove the worst offenders from the streets of LA.”
Homan concluded by suggesting that the governor and mayor might eventually acknowledge the improved safety resulting from ICE’s efforts, warning that enforcement would continue unabated.
