Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Tom Homan as the "border czar" who will be responsible for US border policy.
“Tom Homan will be in charge of all deportations of illegal aliens back to their home countries,” said President-elect Donald Trump.
Homan was head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump's first term, an issue that has raised concerns among many because he is responsible for the "zero tolerance" policy that separated children from their families during the Republican president's first term.
The appointment does not require Senate confirmation, putting Homan in charge of overseeing U.S. immigration policy and border security, giving him jurisdiction over the country's northern and southern borders, including maritime and air security, which has been a concern for migrants following talk of mass deportations.
Thomas Douglas Homan, born November 28, 1961 in West Carthage, New York, earned a degree in criminal justice from Jefferson Community College and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, and was a police officer and immigration officer.
He worked as an investigator and border agent before being appointed Executive Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2013 by Barack Obama, and then joined ICE for the first time in 2017 as acting director. He was known for his harsh measures, such as the family separation policy, which was harshly criticized by the media.
This severe immigration policy had physical and psychological consequences for many families, but especially for children who were separated from their loved ones. This set of measures was called "zero tolerance" and was implemented during Donald Trump's presidency.
During his time at ICE, a record number of children were recorded in US custody, causing great concern among migrant rights groups who began to question his actions.
For this new phase, Homan will take a new "selective" approach to deportation operations, as he has said that they will focus on identifying people who have prior criminal convictions, and he has also mentioned that he will implement measures to control and sanction illegal hiring practices.
Priority will be given to deporting those who are considered a "threat" to the country's public security, which has sown distrust among communities.
Homan has said cooperation between local and federal immigration enforcement agencies is essential to achieving the goals Trump has set.
While his position does not give him complete control over ICE, Customs and Border Protection or other related agencies, he has the trust Trump has expressed in him to carry out his will.
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