Despite a sharp increase in immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump and his top border advisor, Tom Homan, say current efforts are still falling short. ICE has ramped up operations, but both men insist more must be done to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal backgrounds.
Homan, who serves as Trump’s “border czar,” stated in a recent interview that ICE’s interior enforcement is three times higher than last year. However, he added, “I’m not satisfied. There are more criminal aliens that need to be arrested, hundreds of thousands.” Homan cited resistance from sanctuary cities and leaks of enforcement operations as key challenges that must be overcome.
Trump has privately and publicly echoed Homan’s concerns. While he has commended ICE officers for their work, he reportedly told aides that the number of arrests is “too low” and wants a greater crackdown on illegal immigration. Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged the difficulty of tracking down dangerous criminals but insisted that his administration is sending out thousands of enforcement agents to find and deport them.
ICE has made approximately 11,000 arrests in the past 18 days, averaging 787 per day. However, officials have released some migrants due to health concerns, limited detention space, and other logistical challenges. Homan said he has spoken with ICE leadership to ensure that no one is released without direct approval from headquarters, calling recent releases “unacceptable.”
The Trump administration is also looking beyond ICE to strengthen immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has formally requested that IRS agents assist with investigations into human trafficking networks and businesses hiring illegal migrants. The administration is also pursuing agreements with Central American governments to expedite deportations.
A recent poll from Axios/Ipsos found that a majority of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants, though support declines when specific methods of enforcement are detailed. Nonetheless, Trump and Homan have signaled they will continue to push for an aggressive immigration crackdown.
