Border Czar Tom Homan has issued a stern warning to California officials who may attempt to obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations: they will face arrest and prosecution.
In an interview with NBC News’s Jacob Soboroff, set to air Sunday evening, Homan addressed the recent riots in California aimed at blocking ICE agents from detaining illegal immigrants for deportation. “The rhetoric is so high against ICE officers in this city that it’s a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt,” Homan said. “We’ve got help coming, and we’re going to do our job, and we’re going to continue doing that job.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have become increasingly outspoken in their opposition to the ICE raids and President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to quell the unrest.
During the interview, Jacob Soboroff asked Tom Homan whether his warning—that anyone obstructing ICE operations would be arrested—also applies to Newsom and Bass. “I’ll say about anybody,” Homan responded. “It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.”
The border czar said he does not believe Bass has “crossed the line yet,” but said “we will ask DOJ to prosecute” if things escalate. “What we’re saying is we’re not going to tolerate people attacking our officers,” he said. Regarding the California Democratic governor, Homan called him “an embarrassment for the state.”
“If he cared about public safety in the state of California, he would not have a sanctuary for criminals — where criminals get released to the streets of this state every day because of his policies,” Homan added.
“I have absolutely no respect for this governor,” Homan said. “Criminal aliens are walking in this state every day because of his government policy. I don’t care what the governor thinks of me. I’m not running a popularity contest.”
