History of Tom Homan in Timeline

Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer who has served in various roles related to immigration and border security. He was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from January 2017 to June 2018. Homan served in both the Obama and first Trump administrations. In November 2024, Donald Trump designated Homan as "border czar" in anticipation of a second Trump presidency.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

November 28, 1961: Tom Homan Born

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

1983: Homan Becomes Police Officer

In 1983, Tom Homan began his career as a police officer in West Carthage.

1984: Homan Joins Immigration and Naturalization Service

In 1984, Tom Homan joined the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, later serving as a Border Patrol agent, investigator, and supervisor.

2003: Homan Serves as Supervisor on Texas Border

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

2012: Ragsdale Deputy Director

In 2012, Daniel Ragsdale had been in the position of Deputy Director, which was the role he was demoted to when Homan was appointed acting ICE director on January 30, 2017.

2013: Homan Appointed Executive Associate Director at ICE

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

2014: Homan Advocates for Family Separation Policy

By 2014, under the Obama administration, Tom Homan began arguing that separating children from their caregivers would be an effective way to discourage illegal border crossings, earning him the title of "intellectual father" of the policy.

2015: Homan Receives Presidential Rank Award

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

2016: ICE Arrests Before Homan

In May 2017, Tom Homan announced that ICE had arrested 41,319 people between Inauguration Day and the end of April, marking a 38% increase from the same period in 2016.

January 2017: Homan Appointed Acting ICE Director

In January 2017, Tom Homan began his tenure as acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

January 30, 2017: Homan Appointed as Acting ICE Director

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

May 2017: ICE Arrests Increase

In May 2017, Tom Homan announced that ICE had arrested 41,319 people between Inauguration Day and the end of April, marking a 38% increase from the same period in 2016.

November 14, 2017: Trump Nominates Homan for ICE Director

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

February 2018: Homan Advocates Charging Sanctuary City Supporters with Crimes

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

April 2018: Homan Advises 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 prosecuting parents and separating children from their families.

May 2018: Homan Participates in Press Conference Announcing Zero-Tolerance Policy

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

June 5, 2018: Homan Defends 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: Homan Retires as Acting ICE Director

In June 2018, Tom Homan retired as acting ICE director.

June 2018: End of Homan's Tenure as Acting ICE Director

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

2018: Homan Begins Contributing to Fox News

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

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2018: Homan Becomes Fox News Commentator

After 2018, Tom Homan started working as a commentator for Fox News.

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July 2019: Homan Testifies on Family Separation Policy

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

March 2020: Homan Publishes Book

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

February 2022: Homan Joins Heritage Foundation

In February 2022, Tom Homan joined the Heritage Foundation and became a contributor to its Project 2025.

February 25, 2022: Homan Leaves Conference Early

On February 25, 2022, Tom 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: Homan Launches Border-Focused Project

In November 2022, Tom Homan launched a border-focused project called "Defend the Border and Save Lives" in collaboration with the United West, which has faced criticism for promoting inflammatory rhetoric.

2022: Homan Joins Heritage Foundation

In 2022, Tom Homan joined the Heritage Foundation and became a contributor to Project 2025.

June 2024: Homan Speaker at Anti-Immigration Event

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

July 2024: Homan Speaks at National Conservatism Conference

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Tom Homan stated his intent to run "the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen" if Trump returned to office.

September 2024: Homan Reportedly Recorded Accepting Cash

In September 2024, Tom Homan was reportedly recorded accepting a bag containing $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents posing as business executives as part of a bribery investigation.

September 2024: Federal Bribery Investigation

In September 2024, Tom Homan was the subject of a federal bribery investigation after reportedly being recorded accepting a paper bag with $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents.

October 2024: Homan Guest on Newsome's Podcast

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

November 10, 2024: Trump Announces Homan as Border Czar

On November 10, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that Tom Homan would join his incoming administration as the "border czar" to oversee the deportation of illegal aliens.

November 2024: Homan Designated Border Czar

In November 2024, Donald Trump designated Tom Homan as "border czar" for what would have been Trump's second presidency.

February 2025: Homan Reportedly Met with Proud Boys Associate

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

February 2025: Homan on Fox & Friends

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

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March 2025: Deportations to El Salvador Defying Court Order

In March 2025, under Tom Homan, the Trump administration deported two planeloads of people to El Salvador, defying a court order blocking the deportations.

April 2025: Deportation Numbers

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

April 17, 2025: Homan Interview on Deportation of American Citizens

On April 17, 2025, Tom Homan was interviewed by Kaitlan Collins about the deportation of American citizens to foreign prisons and deferred the question to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

September 2025: DOJ Closes Investigation

In September 2025, the Department of Justice closed the investigation into Tom Homan, citing insufficient evidence.

2025: Bribery Case Closed

In 2025, after Trump assumed the presidency, Justice Department officials closed the federal bribery case against Tom Homan, citing insufficient evidence.

2025: Homan Contributes to Project 2025

In February 2022, Tom 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: Deportation Plans

In July 2024, at a National Conservatism Conference meeting, Tom Homan stated his intent to run "the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen" in 2025 if Trump returned to office.