Tom Homan, newly elected President Donald Trump’s border czar, has revealed that the nation’s largest mass deportation effort will begin in Chicago.
Homan, 63, the former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term, explained his plans to remove migrants who crossed the southern border illegally.
“Chicago is in trouble because your mayor is worthless, and your governor is worthless,” Homan told the crowd at the Northwest Side GOP holiday party where attendees were also present Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
He then called them both “terrible” while also urging them to follow in the footsteps of New York Mayor Eric Adams and “come to the table” for discussions, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Homan also warned Johnson, who had vowed to fight the Trump administration’s deportation plan, not to “hinder” his efforts.
“If he won’t help, get the hell out of the way,” Homan said.
“If he knowingly harbors or conceals an illegal alien, I will prosecute him.”
Homan further explained what Trump’s deportation efforts entail.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan has revealed that the nation’s largest mass deportation effort will begin in Chicago
He lashed out at Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (left) and Mayor Brandon Johnson (right) for their refusal to assist the Trump administration in its deportation efforts
Migrants who committed crimes while in the United States will be the first to be targeted — followed by legal migrants, including asylum seekers and those who entered the U.S. on humanitarian parole under the Biden administration.
Homan said Monday he would work to verify the status of asylum seekers and arrest anyone harboring criminal migrants.
He also reiterated that there is no plan to separate families, although he suggested it could happen.
“My goal is to enforce the law, but if you put yourself in that position, it can happen,” the new border czar said. “But there is currently no plan in this government to separate families.”
‘However, we are going to enforce the law. So if you put yourself in that position, it’s up to you,” he said, explaining that parents of Dreamers — the children of immigrants born in the United States — have two options.
“You can take a kid home, or they can just stay here,” Homan said. “But you don’t get a pass.”
He also said those who do not qualify for asylum through the legal system will be deported.
“If we don’t do that, what the hell are we doing? Close Immigration Court?’ he asked rhetorically.
‘There are no more consequences. We must remove them if the law requires it.”
Chicago has seen more than 50,000 migrants flock to the Windy City since August 2022
Homan subsequently criticized media coverage of Trump’s deportation plan and denied that it was racist.
“We know exactly who we are going to arrest,” he claimed. “We probably know where we’re going to find them. We know a lot about them thanks to research files.
‘So it is not a sweep, not an uncontrolled operation. It is a very targeted operation.’
Chicago had seen more than 50,000 migrants flock to the Windy City since August 2022, and after Trump’s election last month, Mayor Johnson defended the city’s sanctuary status — stating he would not allow police to use federal ICE agents would help.
“Our values will remain strong and steadfast,” he said.
“We will probably encounter obstacles in our work over the next four years, but we will not be held back and we will not go back.”
Mayor Johnson has defended the city’s sanctuary status, stating he would not allow police to assist federal ICE agents
Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker is in talks with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office to explore what legal resources or personnel they will need to challenge Trump’s policies — including his plan to withhold federal funding for police .
He had called such drugs “illegal” and vowed to take legal action.
“To anyone who plans to take away the freedom, opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, let me remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior,” he said after Trump’s election victory.
‘You come for my people. You come through me.”
But after Homan’s comments on Monday, Pritzker took a less combative approach.
“It’s no secret that Illinois will face numerous, unwarranted attacks from the Trump administration over the next four years,” spokesman Alex Gough said.
“Instead of responding to every ridiculous boast from Trump’s lackeys, Governor Pritzker is focusing on what he focused on during the first Trump term: leading our state with competence rather than chaos.”
However, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Chicago Democrat, was even more steadfast
“Tom Homan, the next time you come to #IL03 – a district made stronger and more powerful by immigrants – you better be ready to meet the backlash,” she wrote on social media.