Controversial head of immigration agency says he’s stepping down
Thomas Homan, the Trump administration’s top immi- gration enforcement official, announced Monday that he plans to step down from his job, six months after President Donald Trump nominated him to be director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Homan was named ICE’s acting director soon after Trump took office in 2017, and the tough-talking, bar- rel-chested former Border Patrol agent quickly became an unapologetic enthusi- ast for the administration’s more aggressive enforcement approach.
Under Homan, immigration arrests surged 40 per- cent after agents scrapped an Obama administration policy of targeting serious or violent criminal offenders in favor of casting a wider net. Homan said those living illegally in the United States “should be afraid” that his agents could be coming for them.
Pleased with Homan’s beat- cop demeanor, Trump picked him for the permanent ICE leadership role in November. But his nomination went nowhere and never came up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Homan ran ICE in a pro- visional capacity for so long in early February of his plans eral service after more than the agency could no longer to retire, but she urged him 34 years is bittersweet, but legally refer to him as its “Act- to delay the announcement my family has sacrificed a ing Director,” instead identibecause there was already so lot in order for me to serve fying him as its “Senior Offi- much turnover at the highest and it’s time for me to focus cial Performing the Duties of levels of the Trump adminison them.” the Director.” tration, a person with knowlHoman had been the sub
In recent months Homan edge of their conversations ject of several critical reports told friends and co-workers said. in recent weeks regarding he felt increasingly sidelined Homan’s retirement plans ICE policies that include the by his boss, Homeland Secu- were first reported by the Wall forced separation of immi- rity Secretary Kirstjen NielStreet Journal. grant families in detention sen, according to three peoIn a statement Monday, as well as the agency’s con- ple close to Homan. When Homan said the decision was troversial arrest practices. Nielsen met with lawmakers prompted by a desire to spend Homan’s statement said his earlier this year to negotiate more time with his family. agency has been repeatedly an immigration deal, Homan “It has been the honor of maligned by “unfair and false was not invited to join the dismy life to lead the men and criticism from politicians and cussions, and his frustrations women of ICE for more than the media.” deepened. a year,” his statement read. In a letter Friday, nearly
Homan informed Nielsen “The decision to leave fed- 20 Senate Democrats asked the Department of Homeland Security to provide documents explaining why Homan’s nomination had stalled, suggesting DHS didn’t want him to face scrutiny.
understand that the Trump Administration may be concerned about Mr. Homan answering questions under oath about his leadership of ICE, as well as the possibility that Mr. Homan’s nomination could be defeated in the Senate,” the letter said. “However, the Senate is an independent branch of government and has a responsibility under the Constitution to provide its advice and consent on this nomination.”