History of Tom Homan in Timeline

Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer and political commentator. He served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from January 2017 to June 2018. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump designated Homan as "border czar," with the official title of White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, during Trump's hypothetical second presidency.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

November 28, 1961: Thomas Douglas Homan Born

On November 28, 1961, Thomas Douglas Homan was born. He later became a law enforcement officer and political commentator.

1983: Became a Police Officer

In 1983, Homan became a police officer in West Carthage, marking the start of his law enforcement career.

1984: Joined US Immigration and Naturalization Service

In 1984, Homan joined the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and served as a United States Border Patrol agent, investigator, and supervisor over a 30-year career.

2003: Supervisor on Texas Border

In 2003, Homan served as a supervisor on the Texas border with Mexico, overseeing border operations.

May 2012: Daniel Ragsdale as deputy director

Daniel Ragsdale was deputy director of ICE since May 2012.

2013: Appointed Executive Associate Director at ICE

In 2013, Homan was appointed by President Barack Obama as Immigration and Customs Enforcement's executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations.

2014: Advocating for Family Separations

By 2014, Homan began to argue that separating children from their caregivers would be an effective means of discouraging illegal border crossings during the Obama administration.

2015: Received Presidential Rank Award

In 2015, Obama awarded Homan a Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Executive, recognizing his effectiveness in deporting people.

January 30, 2017: Appointed Acting ICE Director

On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Homan as acting director of ICE, replacing Daniel Ragsdale.

May 2017: ICE Arrests Increase

In May 2017, Homan announced that ICE had arrested 41,319 people between Inauguration Day and the end of April, marking a 38% increase from the previous year.

November 14, 2017: Nominated for ICE Director

On November 14, 2017, President Trump nominated Homan for the position of ICE director.

February 2018: Criticism of Sanctuary City Policies

In February 2018, Homan stated that politicians who support sanctuary city policies should be charged with crimes.

April 2018: Advised Implementing Zero Tolerance Policy

In April 2018, Homan and Kevin McAleenan formally advised Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to implement the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration, including the prosecution of parents and the separation of children from their families.

May 2018: Announcement of Zero Tolerance Policy

In May 2018, Homan participated in the press conference announcing that the "zero tolerance" policy on immigration was going into effect.

June 5, 2018: Defense of Family Separations

On June 5, 2018, Homan appeared for a discussion with the policy director of the Center for Immigration Studies, where he defended the separation of children from their parents.

June 2018: Retirement from ICE

In June 2018, Homan retired from his position as acting ICE director.

June 29, 2018: End of ICE Directorship

On June 29, 2018, Thomas Homan's tenure as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to an end.

2018: Became Fox News Commentator

After his time in government, Homan began contributing to Fox News as a commentator in 2018.

Loading Video...

2018: Contribution to Fox News

In 2018, Homan began contributing to Fox News as a commentator after his time in government.

Loading Video...

July 2019: Testified Before House Oversight Committee

In July 2019, Homan testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee regarding the Trump administration's family separation policy.

March 2020: Published 'Defend the Border and Save Lives'

In March 2020, Homan published "Defend the Border and Save Lives: Solving Our Most Important Humanitarian and Security Crisis".

February 2022: Joined the Heritage Foundation

In February 2022, Homan joined the Heritage Foundation.

February 25, 2022: Left Conference Due to Founder's Remarks

On February 25, 2022, Homan was slated as a keynote speaker for the America First Political Action Conference held near Orlando, Florida, but left before the conference began after learning that the conference's founder, Nick Fuentes, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.

November 2022: Launched Border-Focused Project

In November 2022, Homan launched a border-focused project called "Defend the Border and Save Lives" in collaboration with the United West, which was designated as an anti-Muslim hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

June 2024: Speaker at Anti-Immigration Event

In June 2024, Homan was a featured speaker at an anti-immigration event hosted by Terry Newsome in Chicago.

July 2024: Comments at National Conservatism Conference

At a July 2024 National Conservatism Conference meeting, Homan stated that if Trump returns in January, he will lead the biggest deportation force the country has ever seen. On July 17, at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Homan called Biden's immigration policies "national suicide" and told "millions of illegal aliens" to "start packing".

October 2024: Guest on Terry Newsome's Podcast

In October 2024, Homan was a guest on Terry Newsome's podcast.

November 10, 2024: Appointment as 'Border Czar'

On November 10, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that Homan would be joining the incoming administration as the "border czar," in charge of deporting illegal aliens.

November 2024: Designated "Border Czar"

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump designated Thomas Homan as "Border Czar" during Trump's second presidency.

February 2025: Meetings with Proud Boys Associate

In February 2025, Hatewatch reported that Homan met multiple times with Proud Boys associate Terry Newsome.

February 2025: Comments to Eric Adams on Fox & Friends

In February 2025, while appearing with New York City mayor Eric Adams on the Fox News program Fox & Friends, Homan threatened Adams regarding cooperation with ICE on immigration issues.

Loading Video...

March 2025: Deportations Defying Court Order

In March 2025, two planeloads of people alleged to be Venezuelan gang members were deported to El Salvador, defying a court order blocking the deportations. Homan stated that the administration completed the deportations despite the court order.

April 2025: Deportation Numbers

As of April 2025, the Trump administration reported that around 140,000 people had been deported, although some estimates put the number at roughly half that amount.

April 2025: Interview on Deportation of Citizens

On 17 April 2025, Homan was interviewed by Kaitlan Collins about the deportation of American citizens to foreign prisons. He said that was "out of his lane" and deferred to Attorney-General Pam Bondi.

2025: Contributor to Project 2025

In 2025, Homan became a contributor to the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which proposes mass arrests, detentions, and deportations of illegal immigrants across the nation.

2025: Plans for Mass Deportation

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Homan referenced 2025 and his plans to run the biggest deportation force the country has ever seen if Trump returns to office.