White House border czar Tom Homan issued a stark warning on Sunday that violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue unless political leaders cease their “hateful rhetoric.”
In a televised interview, Homan stated: “I wish the hateful rhetoric from congressmen, mayors, and governors would stop, because I said back in March there’s going to be bloodshed. I don’t want more bloodshed. But unless they stop doing what they’re doing, there will be more, and I worry about that every day.”
Homan cited a dramatic spike in threats against ICE agents—up over 8,000 percent—and assaults on officers that surged by approximately 1,300 percent, numbers he described as unprecedented in his decades of law enforcement.
The border czar emphasized the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance approach toward interference with immigration operations, pointing to increased federal prosecutions under Attorney General Pam Bondi. He noted the Justice Department is pursuing record numbers of cases involving impeding or interfering with immigration enforcement and physical assaults on officers.
“We’re sending a strong message,” Homan said, adding that anyone who “puts a hand on an ICE officer” should expect arrest and federal prosecution.
Homan praised President Donald Trump’s border agenda as creating the most secure border in U.S. history, citing nationwide encounters falling to just over 30,000 in November—a nearly 95 percent decline since former President Joe Biden took office. He reported more than 600,000 illegal aliens have been deported by ICE and an additional 1.9 million have self-deported.
However, Homan highlighted growing resistance from political figures and judges, including a Milwaukee County judge recently found guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents during a courthouse incident. He also noted that roughly 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children went missing during the Biden administration, with the Trump team locating about 129,000 through coordinated efforts involving the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services.
Homan urged political leaders to de-escalate tensions as immigration enforcement ramps up, warning that escalating threats against ICE officers could lead to more violence if rhetoric continues. He made the remarks while traveling in Arizona, where he plans to address Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference on border security.
“I don’t want more bloodshed,” Homan stressed. “But unless they stop doing what they’re doing, there will be more.”
