Tom Homan Claims Biden Administration Is Misleading About Proper Vetting Following MS-13 Leader’s Arrest

Border Security Critique Following Arrest of MS-13 Leader

On Thursday, former Border Patrol Chief Tom Homan accused ex-President Joe Biden of dishonesty regarding the handling of illegal immigrants after the arrest of MS-13 leader Melvin Alejandro Valerra Perez in Omaha, Nebraska. Homan pointed out that Perez’s entry into the U.S. after illegally crossing the border in 2023 highlighted failures in the administration’s review process for those admitted.

“This really exemplifies what I’ve been saying for years now,” Homan remarked. “The Biden administration misled the American people when they claimed that everyone entering the country was thoroughly vetted. That wasn’t the case. Initially, we didn’t have access to criminal records from other countries, though who knows—perhaps it wasn’t entirely surprising.”

Homan further criticized the Biden administration, asserting that inadequate screening made it easier for violent offenders to enter and remain in the country. He said that this “incompetence” resulted in record numbers of dangerous individuals being present in communities across the U.S.

“The last administration’s ineptitude essentially allowed for the release of individuals without necessary evaluations,” Homan said. He also noted how previous directives from former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas restricted ICE from taking action against individuals unless they had serious criminal convictions, further complicating enforcement efforts.

Perez is wanted for multiple murders and is linked to terrorist organizations. In addition to his arrest, authorities also detained Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, who allegedly directed other MS-13 members in various crimes, including human trafficking and murder.

Statistics from the Department of Homeland Security reveal that since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, ICE has apprehended over 273,000 illegal immigrants, with 70% of them having criminal records or facing charges. Moreover, over 239,000 illegal immigrants were deported in that timeframe.

Interestingly, there was a notable drop in border encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border recently. For instance, in May 2024—while Biden was still in office—encounters peaked at 240,924, but that number fell significantly to 29,502 by May 2025.

Additionally, there was a violent incident when nearly 12 armed assailants ambushed an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, resulting in a local officer being shot.