As President-elect Donald Trump moves to assemble his cabinet ahead of his January inauguration, his recent appointments suggest a tough stance on immigration. On Monday, Trump named Tom Homan, the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as his “border czar.” Additionally, longtime adviser Stephen Miller is set to become his deputy chief of staff for policy.
Both Homan and Miller played key roles in shaping some of Trump’s most controversial immigration policies during his first term, including family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border and the Muslim travel ban. Their appointments are seen as a signal that Trump plans to deliver on his campaign promise of carrying out “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
A Strong Focus on Deportation
Homan, who served as ICE director from 2017 to 2021, has been a strong advocate for mass deportations. In a recent interview, he spoke about the excitement among ICE agents, Border Patrol officers, and even retired personnel eager to support the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Trump praised Homan’s appointment in a statement, calling him the best choice to manage the border and deport undocumented immigrants. Homan, in turn, expressed confidence in the support he would receive from law enforcement, stating that he was ready to push forward with aggressive border security measures.
Stephen Miller, known for his outspoken, anti-immigrant rhetoric, has also advocated for strict deportation measures. He previously suggested that National Guard units could be enlisted to assist with deportations and has even floated the idea of creating detention “camps” for people awaiting removal.
Rights Groups Express Concerns
Immigrant rights groups have expressed alarm over the appointments, viewing them as a signal that Trump will pursue even more severe immigration policies. Arash Azizzada, an immigrant rights advocate, called Homan and Miller’s appointments a sign that Trump intends to fulfill what he called “cruel and racist” campaign promises. Azizzada and other activists have urged local governments, particularly those led by Democrats, to resist cooperating with the federal government’s deportation efforts.
During his interview, Homan indicated that if local jurisdictions refuse to assist in deportations, the administration would proceed with enforcement regardless. “We’re going to do the job without you or with you,” he said.
Challenges Ahead
While Trump’s tough immigration agenda is likely to face legal hurdles, experts warn that the new administration could attempt to bypass certain legal restrictions. Immigration lawyer Greg Siskind pointed out that efforts to deport individuals under temporary protected status (TPS) or to restrict birthright citizenship could be challenged in court. Similarly, Trump’s proposal to label border crossers as an “invasion” and invoke emergency powers to expedite deportations could face significant legal resistance.
However, many advocates are bracing for an extensive crackdown, with some predicting that the new Republican-controlled Congress could enable Trump’s policies. As the U.S. faces the possibility of a hardline immigration strategy, groups like Al Otro Lado, which works with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, stress the importance of continuing to fight for immigrant rights, regardless of who holds political power.
“We will continue to speak out, expose injustice, and fight, as we did under Trump Round One,” the group stated, reflecting the determination of advocacy organizations to protect vulnerable populations despite the challenges ahead.
Related topics:
- Trump’s Border Czar Tells Critics: ‘Legal Immigrants Are Completely Safe’
- How Trump’s New ‘Border Tsar’ Plans to Tackle Immigration
- Trump Names First Political Appointments, Focusing on Immigration
