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Tom Homan

Tom Homan is an American law enforcement official best known for serving as acting director of U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tom Homan is an American law enforcement official best known for serving as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 2017 to 2018. In November 2024, Donald Trump designated him as border czar for his second administration, a non-Senate-confirmed role focused on immigration enforcement and border policy. Homan has been a prominent advocate of deportation and opposition to sanctuary city policies.

Early life and education

Tom Homan was born in West Carthage, New York, and studied criminal justice at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Before federal service, he worked as a police officer.

Career in immigration enforcement

Homan joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1984 and later held senior roles in U.S. immigration enforcement. He became executive associate director for Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE in 2013.

ICE leadership

Homan served as acting director of ICE from January 2017 to June 2018 during the first Trump administration. His tenure placed him at the centre of federal immigration enforcement policy.

Border czar role

In November 2024, Trump named Homan border czar for his second administration. The role is an executive-branch appointment and is not Senate-confirmed.

Public positions

Homan is identified with stricter immigration enforcement, including support for deportation policies and criticism of sanctuary city practices. He has also been associated with conservative policy work through the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025.

Key facts

  • Tom Homan served as acting director of ICE from 2017 to 2018.
  • He was named border czar for Donald Trump's second administration in November 2024.
  • Homan began his career in local law enforcement and joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1984.
  • He supports deportation measures and opposes sanctuary city policies.
  • He joined the Heritage Foundation in 2022 and contributed to Project 2025.
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Canadian context

Homan’s policies and public statements are relevant to Canadian readers because U.S. border and immigration enforcement can affect cross-border travel, asylum patterns, and bilateral border management.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Tom Homan?
Tom Homan is an American law enforcement official and former acting ICE director who was appointed border czar for Donald Trump’s second administration.
What did Tom Homan do at ICE?
He served as acting director of ICE from January 2017 to June 2018 after previously leading Enforcement and Removal Operations.
What is Tom Homan’s background?
He began in local police work, joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1984, and later rose through immigration enforcement ranks.
What is the border czar role?
It is an informal executive-branch role focused on border and immigration policy coordination; it does not require Senate confirmation.
What are Tom Homan’s policy views?
He is known for supporting deportation enforcement and opposing sanctuary city policies.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Homan
    Supports: Birth date, career timeline, ICE acting director role, Trump border czar designation, and policy positions
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tom-Homan
    Supports: Biography, birth details, education, and current border czar role
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjw1pn4lwjqo
    Supports: Border czar appointment, immigration enforcement role, and non-Senate-confirmed nature of the position
  4. U.S. House of Representatives — https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO06/20130627/101040/HHRG-113-GO06-Bio-HomanT-20130627.pdf
    Supports: ICE executive role and promotion to executive associate director for ERO
  5. Poynter — https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2024/trump-border-czar-tom-homan-deportations/
    Supports: Border czar announcement, career background, and mass deportation focus