Trump Border Official Sparks Cheer at Summit

At the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, Tom Homan, a prominent figure in border enforcement, energized the audience on Saturday night. This came after a heckler questioned him, asking if he was affiliated with the gang MS-13. Rather than derail his speech, the comment seemed to boost Homan’s momentum as he declared, “Tom Homan is planning the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen.” The crowd responded with chants of “USA! USA! USA!” as he wrapped up his talk.

Homan directed his ire at anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protesters, particularly those gathered outside the Tampa venue. “Do you want some? Get some,” he remarked, showing frustration over the public’s perception of ICE agents. He went on to say, “They are the highest 1% this country has. And Tom Homan is not going anywhere.” Homan positioned himself firmly against criticisms faced by immigration personnel, urging for greater respect towards them.

Reacting to the heckler’s MS-13 remark—a reference to a notorious gang that has been a focal point in discussions of immigration—Homan noted that immigration officials regularly deal with detractors. He expressed disbelief at the audacity of critics who, he said, don’t understand what it means to serve the country. His criticism escalated as he dismissed the heckler, suggesting he was a “loser” living in his mother’s basement, which drew more cheers from the crowd.

While delivering his passionate speech, Homan criticized what he termed as the overarching hostility towards ICE and border patrol officials, noting he had never witnessed such animosity before. He was disappointed, however, that he hadn’t seen the protesters when he arrived, even though demonstrators lined the streets outside, voicing their opposition to Trump’s immigration policies.

These protests were part of a larger trend of increasing scrutiny and contention surrounding federal immigration enforcement, especially following recent legislation aimed at immigration reform. The atmosphere around these discussions has become particularly charged, with protests growing in conjunction with heightened rhetoric against ICE.

Homan concluded by affirming support for Trump’s tough stance on illegal immigration. “Under his leadership, we held the safest borders in the history of the nation and did that in seven weeks,” he asserted, contrasting the administration’s actions with those of the current president.