Thomas “Tom” Homan has emerged as one of former President Donald Trump’s most prominent figures overseeing immigration enforcement and deportations, drawing renewed national scrutiny as controversy over federal immigration operations intensifies. In January 2026, Trump announced he was sending Homan to Minneapolis and the surrounding Minnesota region to take direct oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations after two U.S. citizens — including ICU nurse Alex Pretti — were fatally shot by federal immigration agents during a surge of enforcement actions that began in late 2025. The deployment comes amid widespread protests, bipartisan calls for independent investigations, and legal challenges to the aggressive federal tactics now playing out across the state.
In April 2025, Homan faced backlash following the removal of a 2-year-old child to Honduras alongside her mother, who had been deported from the U.S. The case drew attention after Louisiana Federal District Court Judge Terry Doughty said there was a “strong suspicion” the government may have deported a U.S. citizen without meaningful due process. Homan claimed that the child’s mother “had due process at great taxpayer expense and was ordered by an immigration judge after those hearings, so she had due process.”
“The 2-year-old went with the mom. The mom signed the paper, saying ‘I want my 2-year-old to go with me,’” Homan told CBS on April 27, 2025. “That’s a parent’s decision, it’s not a government decision.” He then noted, “We don’t deport U.S. citizens” and said that in a case like this one, “the mother chose to take the children with her.”
Below, learn more about Homan and what his role is in Trump’s administration.
Tom Homan: “We just arrested a judge…when you cross that line to impediment…you will be prosecuted, judge or not.” pic.twitter.com/BcHmAg7XiL
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 28, 2025
Who Is Tom Homan?
Homan is known as the “border czar” in Trump’s administration. Previously, he worked as a political commentator, law enforcement officer and acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from January 2017 to January 2018. He was appointed by former President Barack Obama to serve as ICE’s executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations in 2013.
How Old Is Tom Homan?
Homan is 64 years old as of 2026.
What Is Tom Homan’s Job?
As Trump’s border czar, Homan’s official title is the White House executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations. A “czar” is an individual appointed by the president without needing Senate confirmation. Homan is in charge of both the southern and northern borders of the U.S.
How Many People Have Been Deported So Far?
Since Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that more than 605,000 people have been deported from the United States under the current administration — though limited public data makes it difficult to verify exactly who is counted in that figure or how many were removed versus turned away at the border or airports. DHS has also claimed that an additional 1.9 million people voluntarily left the country during the same period amid intensified enforcement actions.
