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", whose official title is White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, during Trump's 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.

1983: Became Police Officer

In 1983, Thomas Homan became a police officer in West Carthage.

1984: Joined US Immigration and Naturalization Service

In 1984, Thomas Homan joined the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and served as a United States Border Patrol agent, investigator, and supervisor for 30 years.

2003: Supervisor on the Texas border with Mexico

In 2003, Homan was a supervisor on the Texas border with Mexico. An incident in Victoria TX stands out: the human smuggling case in which 19 illegal immigrants died.

May 2012: Daniel Ragsdale appointed as deputy director

In May 2012, Daniel Ragsdale was first appointed as deputy director of ICE, a position he was demoted back to in January 2017 when Homan was appointed acting director.

2013: Appointed Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations

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

2014: Advocated for Separating Children from Caregivers

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

2015: Received Presidential Rank Award

In 2015, Barack Obama awarded Thomas Homan a Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Executive.

January 30, 2017: Appointed Acting ICE Director

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

May 2017: ICE Arrests Increased

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

November 14, 2017: Nominated for ICE Director

On November 14, 2017, Donald Trump nominated Homan for ICE director.

February 2018: Statements on Sanctuary Cities

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, along with Kevin McAleenan, formally advised Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to implement the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration, including family separations.

May 2018: Participated in Press Conference Announcing "Zero Tolerance" Policy

In May 2018, Homan participated in the press conference announcing the implementation of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration.

June 5, 2018: Defended Family Separations

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

June 2018: Retired as Acting ICE Director

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

June 29, 2018: End of term as acting ICE director

On June 29, 2018, Thomas Homan's service as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) concluded.

2018: Contributor to Fox News

After 2018, Homan began contributing to Fox News as a commentator.

July 2019: Testified Before U.S. House Oversight Committee

In July 2019, Thomas 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 America First Political Action Conference

On February 25, 2022, Homan was slated as a keynote speaker for the America First Political Action Conference, but left before it began after learning of Nick Fuentes' praise for Vladimir Putin.

November 2022: Launched "Defend the Border and Save Lives" Project

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

June 2024: Featured Speaker at Anti-Immigration Event

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

July 2024: Statements at National Conservatism Conference and Republican National Convention

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Homan stated intentions to run the "biggest deportation force" if Trump returned. On July 17 at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Homan criticized Biden's immigration policies and vowed to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations under a Trump administration.

October 2024: Guest on Terry Newsome's Podcast

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

November 10, 2024: Announcement as "Border Czar"

On November 10, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that Homan would join the incoming administration as the "border czar", officially the White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, to oversee deportation efforts.

November 2024: Designated "Border Czar"

In November 2024, Donald Trump designated Thomas Homan as "border czar" with the official title of White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, during Trump's second presidency.

February 2025: Reported Meetings with Proud Boys Associate

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

February 2025: Comments Regarding NYC Mayor's Cooperation with ICE

In February 2025, while appearing on Fox & Friends with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Homan threatened to pressure Adams if he didn't cooperate with ICE on immigration issues.

Loading Video...

March 2025: Deportation of Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador

In March 2025, the Trump administration, under Homan's direction, deported two planeloads of people alleged to be Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, defying a court order. Homan stated the administration completed the deportations because the court order was issued when the planes were in international airspace.

April 2025: Interview on Deportation of American 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 threw the question over to Attorney-General Pam Bondi.

2025: Contributor to Project 2025

In 2022, Homan became a contributor to the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which proposes mass arrests, detentions and deportations of illegal immigrants.

2025: Promise of an increased deportation force

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Homan vowed, regarding 2025, that he will run the "biggest deportation force this country has ever seen" if Trump returned to power.