Incoming border czar Tom Homan revealed sweeping plans to tackle undocumented immigration under President-elect Donald Trump, including mass deportations, workplace enforcement raids, and efforts to shut down the perilous Darien Gap migration route, NBC News reported.
In an interview with NBC News, Homan underscored the administration's priority to safeguard national security and address human trafficking concerns.
Homan said the administration intends to shut down the Darien Gap, a 70-mile stretch of treacherous jungle in Panama that hundreds of thousands of migrants traverse annually.
"Shutting down the Darien Gap is going to protect our national security. It's going to save thousands of lives," he said, adding that the U.S. will collaborate with foreign governments to shut it down, NBC News reported.
Panama's immigration authorities have reported a 42% reduction in crossings through the region over the past year, but Homan emphasized the need for further action to deter illegal migration.
Mass deportations will be a cornerstone of the Trump administration's immigration strategy. Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, indicated that workplace enforcement raids, suspended during the current administration, would resume.
"It's the No. 1 place we find victims of forced labor being run by many cartels," Homan explained, stressing the importance of targeting such operations to disrupt human trafficking networks.
Additionally, Homan acknowledged that collateral arrests — detaining undocumented immigrants encountered during raids but not initially targeted — will remain part of the deportation plan. While he did not specify how funding for these expansive measures would be secured, he said $86 billion would be a "great start," framing the expense as essential for national security.
The administration also wants to expand ICE's 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement.
Homan wants weekly press briefings to provide updates on deportation operations and a public hotline for reporting suspected undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activity.
Homan criticized the Biden administration's CBP One app, which migrants use to schedule asylum appointments, saying the program allows individuals to enter the U.S. without proper vetting.
Shelter director Jose Maria Garcia warned that reducing legal pathways to asylum may force desperate migrants to take risks.
"He won't stop the migrants coming," Garcia said of Trump's policies. "He won't deter them."
Nevertheless, Homan expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the proposed measures, framing the immigration crackdown as a response to voter demand.
"This is the No. 1 issue," he said. "It's not so much about illegal immigration. It's about national security."
Homan's message to undocumented migrants was clear: "Go home."
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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