The acting chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a warning to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the US, saying that any illegal border crossers can be deported. Thomas D Homan told a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing that all undocumented immigrants should be looking over their shoulders because no group is immune from arrest and deportation.
Homan clarified that those with criminal records are the immediate priority but says he has no problems with detainers, the first step of the deportation process, being placed on undocumented immigrants who have otherwise committed no crimes. Homan confirmed that the arrests of non-criminal undocumented immigrants have gone up since the Trump administration came into power, adding that immigration officials should not have to wait for them to break another law.
The number of illegal border crossings has fallen under the tough anti-immigration rhetoric of President Donald Trump. Homan says the time has come to reinforce that message by warning that deportation could happen to any and all undocumented immigrants. But, Homan noted, there are no current plans for sweeps involving mass arrests of non-criminal undocumented immigrants.
Homan also asked Congress to shut down sanctuary cities, claiming they endanger ICE agents by harboring criminal immigrants. Homan told critical Democrats that ICE is doing nothing other than following the law and helping to send the message to immigrants that if they want to enter the US, they should do so in the proper legal manner.