Former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan recently shared his perspective on the Biden administration’s immigration policies, suggesting that the border crisis may be intentional. Speaking with Stephen A. Smith, Homan argued that the influx of migrants could serve a political purpose for Democrats. He believes the administration expects many of these new arrivals to become future Democratic voters. Moreover, he pointed out that Biden overturned Trump’s census rule, allowing millions of undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities to be counted in the next census. This, Homan claimed, would lead to more congressional seats for Democrats, altering the balance of power in Washington.
Homan further explained why he suspects this strategy was deliberate. He recalled that both President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas were part of the Obama administration, which took a stricter approach to immigration. Under Obama, when faced with a surge of migrant families, the administration built family detention centers, held migrants long enough for them to appear before a judge, and deported those who failed their asylum cases—about 90% of them. This approach led to a significant drop in border crossings.
Given their past experience handling a similar crisis effectively, Homan questioned why Biden and Mayorkas abandoned policies they knew had worked. Instead of detaining migrants and ensuring court hearings, the current administration opted to release them into the country without immediate legal oversight. Homan argued that this drastic shift in strategy suggests an intentional effort to create a different outcome—one that benefits the Democratic Party in the long run.
This stance has fueled ongoing debates about whether the border crisis is a result of policy failures or a calculated political move. Critics of the administration see these actions as a deliberate attempt to reshape the country’s electorate, while supporters argue that Biden’s approach prioritizes humanitarian concerns over rigid enforcement. Regardless of the motivation, the sharp contrast between the Obama-era policies and the current administration’s handling of immigration raises critical questions about the long-term consequences of open-border policies.
Smith’s reaction to Homan’s remarks was one of surprise, encapsulated in a simple but telling response: “Wow.” His reaction underscores how controversial and polarizing this issue remains, with strong opinions on both sides. The conversation adds to the broader national debate about border security, immigration reform, and the political implications of these policies.