Tom Homan Challenges Catholic Church’s Stance on Immigration

Border czar Tom Homan has expressed strong disagreement with the Catholic Church regarding its criticism of the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies. He suggested that church leaders spend a day with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to better understand the complexities of illegal immigration, which, according to him, is “not a victimless crime.”

This comes in the wake of a statement from the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, released on Wednesday, denouncing what they described as “indiscriminate mass deportations.” The bishops articulated concerns about the atmosphere of fear surrounding issues of profiling and immigration enforcement, and expressed sorrow over the current tone of debate that vilifies immigrants.

In their statement, they noted: “We are disturbed by the climate of fear and anxiety that is spreading among our people over issues of profiling and immigration enforcement.” They also highlighted the poor conditions in detention centers and the lack of pastoral care available, asserting that “human dignity and national security are not contradictory.”

In a bold rebuttal, Homan declared, “The Catholic Church is wrong.” He identified himself as a lifelong Catholic and argued that secure borders genuinely save lives, reinforcing that enforcing immigration laws is critical.

“We’re going to enforce our immigration laws, just as President Trump promised on day one,” he stated. “That’s what he was voted president for, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to keep this promise to the American people,” he added.

Homan emphasized the priority of addressing public safety and national security threats, noting that many individuals arrested have criminal backgrounds. He underscored, “if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not exempt.”

He urged Catholic leaders to consider the perspectives of American families impacted by crime committed by undocumented individuals. Homan explained, “When you cross the border illegally, it’s not only a crime, but you’re cheating the system,” pointing out that millions follow the proper channels to immigrate legally.

“The most humane thing you can do is to enforce the laws and secure the border because it saves lives,” he asserted. He invited Catholic leaders to join him on a trip to the border to witness the situation firsthand, suggesting that while they might not agree completely, they would gain valuable insight into the importance of border security.

Homan’s statement reflects a significant rift between immigration enforcement perspectives and positions held by some religious leaders, underscoring the ongoing debate over immigration policy in the U.S.