Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s border czar, defended the controversial move to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into schools during an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”
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Host Martha Raddatz questioned how the administration could justify targeting “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals, and churches.
“Criminals hiding in schools?” Raddatz asked, specifically referencing middle and elementary schools.
Homan responded, emphasizing the seriousness of threats like MS-13 members in schools: “How many MS-13 members are the age 14-17? Many of them,” he said. He reassured that the arrests were carried out with proper planning and case-by-case discretion, adding that “these are well-trained officers with a lot of discretion.”
The Trump administration formally rescinded the guideline that protected schools and churches from ICE raids, allowing agents to arrest individuals in such locations. Homan argued that no other law enforcement agency faces restrictions on entering sensitive areas like medical facilities. He also highlighted the high cost of the administration’s deportation plans and urged Congress to provide funding.
The conversation reveals ongoing debates about public safety, national security, and the ethical implications of ICE’s increased presence in everyday spaces.
