Tom Homan on Dreamers

Tom Homan, designated as the incoming administration's border czar, has indicated that the initial focus of any mass deportation efforts will be on public safety and national security threats, rather than immediately targeting DACA recipients, often referred to as Dreamers. When questioned about the fate of Dreamers while comprehensive legislation is pending in Congress, he stated that they would be addressed later, suggesting they are not the primary target for immediate removal operations. This position comes despite Homan having been a chief architect of previous administration's hardline mass deportation tactics, which critics note had previously terrorized families and led to collateral arrests.

His nuanced stance suggests an operational hierarchy where enforcing removal on those deemed criminal aliens or national security risks takes precedence over those protected under existing administrative action like DACA. He noted that ICE's operational procedures involve detailed spreadsheets for targeted arrests, and that case-by-case decisions would handle others encountered during enforcement actions. Critics, however, view this distinction as insufficient protection, fearing that a broad dragnet will still ensnare Dreamers, especially if sanctuary city policies are overridden, thereby forcing ICE to make arrests in the community rather than in jails.