Border czar Tom Homan left ABC News’ Martha Radditz somewhat speechless during an interview that aired on Sunday when he said that no one who is in the U.S. illegally is “off the table” in terms of being targeted at some point for deportation. The interview aired as Homan’s efforts have already begun to bear fruit, with thousands of illegal migrants either self-deporting or having been flown aboard military planes back to their home countries, an operation he said will continue “daily.”
“We got military on the border, not only helping us with the departure flights on military planes, or they’re helping to build infrastructure, they’re putting up the concertina wire, they’re down there to create a secure border and knock that border down. And DOD has helped administrations before, but not at this level, so it’s a force multiplier, and it’s sending a strong signal to the world, our border’s closed,” Homan said.
Raddatz asked: “So, is this what we will see every single day, ending in what the president has promised is millions and millions being deported?” Homan made it clear what President Donald Trump’s expectations are: “Yes. But you’re going to see the numbers steadily increase, the number of arrests nationwide as we open up the aperture. Right now, it’s concentrating on public safety threats, national security threats. That’s a smaller population. So, we’re going to do this on priority basis, that’s President Trump’s promise. But as that aperture opens, there’ll be more arrests nationwide.”
TOM HOMAN TEACHES MARTHA RADDATZ ABOUT THE LAW.pic.twitter.com/zQOpfnc7qz
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“When you – when you talk about the aperture opening, the estimates of perhaps those who have been convicted or arrested in the past, 700,000 to over a million. So, after you do that, then you go after everybody who is there illegally?” Raddatz pressed.
“If you’re in the country illegally, you’re on the table, because it’s not OK to, you know, violate the laws of this country. You got to remember, every time you enter this country illegally, you violated a crime under Title Eight, the United States Code 1325, it’s a crime. So, if you’re in a country illegally, you got a problem. And that’s why I’m hoping those who are in the country illegally, who have not been ordered removed by the federal judge, should leave,” Homan pledged.
Raddatz continued, “Let’s talk about the arrests so far. Numbers released the first day were over 500 and there were reports that one was a suspected terrorist, others were gang members. Were all of the people who were arrested on day one, as far as you know, convicted criminals or those who had been arrested before?”
“No. And let me explain that. There are collateral arrests. Where do the collateral arrests happen? Sanctuary cities. And this is important we understand it. Sanctuary cities lock us out of the jails,” Homan responded. “So, instead of ICE being able to arrest the bad guy that – the criminal alien in the safety and security of a jail where the officer is safe, the alien is safe and the public is safe, sanctuary cities release them back in the community, which endangers the community, putting – you’re putting the alien criminal back in the community. But when we find him, he’s going to be with others, most likely. Many times you’re with others. If they’re in the country illegally, they’re coming too.”