ICE to ‘Flood the Zone,’ Border Czar Homan Vows

White House border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is “not going anywhere”, despite growing political and public scrutiny of the agency’s expanded immigration enforcement.

Speaking during an introductory appearance at the Justice Department’s Victims of Violent Crime summit, Homan told the audience: “You can hate us all you want. We’re not going anywhere.”

His remarks came as ICE reported record levels of detentions and deportations and as lawmakers increasingly focused on incidents involving ICE agents’ use of force.

ICE Facing New Scrutiny As Enforcement Rises

Homan did not directly reference the latest high-profile cases involving ICE officers during his remarks, but he blamed criticism of the agency on media coverage.

“We’re going to keep pushing. We’re not going to apologize,” he said.

In the same remarks, Homan added that ICE would continue operating nationwide, describing planned enforcement efforts as focused on sanctuary cities. “We’ll surge resources and flood the zone,” he said, adding: “You got my word on that.”

Austin Shooting Brings Calls For Transparency

In Austin, Texas, an ICE officer shot Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garces Perez on Sunday while he was in his vehicle completing a food delivery for DoorDash. The man was taken to hospital and later released into ICE custody, according to reporting.

The Department of Homeland Security said the 28-year-old had “illegally entered” the United States under the Biden administration, a claim his lawyer has denied. DHS also said he had a final order of removal from an immigration judge.

The shooting prompted backlash from Texas officials, including Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat, who urged ICE to leave Austin, the state capital. Casar called for “full transparency” while local authorities investigated the incident, days before The Associated Press reported that the agent involved was not wearing a body camera.

Michigan Probe Follows Fatal Collision

In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered state police to investigate an ICE vehicle pursuit in Grand Rapids over the weekend, after it ended in a fatal collision.

Mario David Coronado Juarez, a Guatemalan man without permanent legal status, was killed in a car crash following an alleged attempt to flee an ICE traffic stop, Michigan officials said.

The investigation was launched after the crash, which renewed attention among state and local officials on how enforcement operations are conducted and on potential public safety risks.

Homan Pledges Continued Enforcement

Homan framed ICE’s current posture as a continuation of daily enforcement work, saying the agency would act “without apology”.

He told the summit audience that ICE would carry out operations “every day across this country,” specifically highlighting sanctuary cities as locations where it would increase resources.

The border official’s comments underscored the administration’s position that ICE will maintain its enforcement approach even as lawmakers and officials continue to request more information about incidents involving the agency.

Join the discussion?

25 September 2026