Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming border czar, promised immediate mass deportations following the inauguration. In an interview with Fox News, Homan stated that ICE would be empowered to carry out its duties, deporting millions of undocumented migrants without apology. He emphasized that ICE officers would be active nationwide, starting with a large-scale operation in Chicago on Tuesday, just a day after the inauguration.

Homan made it clear that ICE would focus on criminal aliens and that officers would no longer be hindered in their efforts. He noted that the agency would conduct raids across the country, not just in Chicago, with 24 field offices mobilized for the operation. His commitment to “taking the handcuffs off” ICE highlighted a shift in immigration enforcement under the new administration.

When asked about the actions of ICE during the previous administration, Homan pointed to challenges in sanctuary cities, where the agency struggled to arrest priority criminals. However, with the Trump administration’s policies, he pledged more aggressive tactics and anticipated numerous collateral arrests as part of their nationwide efforts.

Trump’s administration, along with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, plans to prioritize the arrest and deportation of individuals with criminal records and the 1.4 million people who have been ordered deported by a judge but remain in the country. Homan reiterated that ICE would focus on these individuals, fulfilling the promises made during Trump’s 2016 campaign on immigration and crime.