Tom Homan on California

Tom Homan, in his capacity as an ICE official, has voiced firm opposition to California's state-level sanctuary policies, specifically citing legislation like SB54. He contends that such laws severely hinder Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ability to perform its federally mandated mission by eliminating cooperation with local law enforcement partners. A primary concern Homan expressed was that the lack of cooperation would force ICE to conduct riskier, at-large arrests in communities and at worksites, potentially leading to more collateral arrests and the need to detain individuals far from their California families.

His position implies that policies prioritizing sanctuary status over federal cooperation create an environment that shields removable aliens and acts as a magnet for further illegal immigration, ultimately jeopardizing public safety. Homan linked the state's sanctuary stance to issues surrounding flawed databases, such as CalGang, which he noted ICE previously accessed and which were found to contain errors and disproportionately target minority populations. He suggests that California's approach is misguided and actively works against the federal government's enforcement priorities.