History of Tom Homan in Timeline

Tom 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, he was designated as "border czar" with the official title of White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations during Donald Trump's hypothetical second presidency.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

November 28, 1961: Tom Homan's Birth

On November 28, 1961, Thomas Douglas Homan was born.

1983: Became a West Carthage Police Officer

In 1983, Tom Homan became a West Carthage police officer, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

1984: Joined Immigration and Naturalization Service

In 1984, Tom Homan joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), serving in various roles including Border Patrol agent, investigator, and supervisor.

2013: Appointed ICE Executive Associate Director

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

2014: Advocated for Family Separations

In 2014, under the Obama administration, Tom Homan began advocating for separating children from their caregivers as a means of discouraging illegal border crossings, a policy he outlined years before its adoption by the Trump administration. He believed this would deter illegal immigration.

2015: Received Presidential Rank Award

In 2015, Tom Homan received a Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Executive from President Barack Obama. At the time, a Washington Post article stated, "Thomas Homan deports people. And he's really good at it."

January 30, 2017: Appointed Acting ICE Director

On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Tom Homan as acting ICE director, replacing Daniel Ragsdale. Ragsdale was demoted to deputy director, a position he had held since May 2012.

May 2017: ICE Arrest Statistics Announced

In May 2017, Tom 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, President Donald Trump nominated Tom Homan for ICE director.

February 2018: Called for Charges Against Politicians Supporting Sanctuary Cities

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

April 2018: Advised Implementation of 'Zero Tolerance' Policy

In April 2018, Tom 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: Participated in Press Conference Announcing 'Zero Tolerance' Policy

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

June 5, 2018: Defended Family Separations

On June 5, 2018, Tom 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, Tom Homan retired from his position as acting ICE director.

June 29, 2018: End of ICE Directorship

On June 29, 2018, Tom Homan's tenure as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ended.

2018: Began Contributing to Fox News

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

July 2019: Testified Before House Oversight Committee

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

February 2022: Joined the Heritage Foundation

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

February 25, 2022: Left America First Political Action Conference Early

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

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

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

June 2024: Speaker at Anti-Immigration Event Hosted by Newsome

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

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

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Tom Homan said he would run the "biggest deportation force" if Trump returns to office. 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 Newsome's Podcast

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

November 10, 2024: Named 'Border Czar' by Trump

On November 10, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that Tom Homan would be joining the incoming administration as the "border czar", whose official title is White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations.

November 2024: Designated as 'Border Czar'

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.

February 2025: Reported Meetings with Proud Boys Associate

In February 2025, Hatewatch reported that Tom Homan met multiple times with Proud Boys associate Terry Newsome to presumably discuss mass deportation.

February 2025: Threatened New York City Mayor Eric Adams

In February 2025, while appearing with New York City mayor Eric Adams on the Fox News program Fox & Friends to discuss Adams' cooperation with ICE on immigration issues, Tom Homan threatened Adams if he didn't cooperate on immigration issues.

March 2025: Defied Court Order on Deportations

In March 2025, Tom Homan told the media that the administration completed deportations despite a court order blocking them, because the court order was made when the planes were above international waters after departing the United States.

2025: Involvement with Project 2025

In 2025, Tom Homan is involved with the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which proposes mass arrests, detentions and deportations of illegal immigrants across the nation.

2025: Threat to Unleash Deportation Force

In July 2024 at a National Conservatism Conference, Tom Homan stated that in 2025 he will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen if Trump is re-elected.