Homan: ICE isn’t ‘going anywhere’ amid immigration enforcement scrutiny

White House border czar Tom Homan publicly defended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, telling attendees at the Justice Department's Victims of Violent Crime summit that the agency will remain in operation despite criticism of its enforcement tactics. Homan said critics could "hate us all you want" but insisted ICE was "not going anywhere" and vowed the agency would continue to enforce immigration laws "without apology." He also signaled plans to increase resources in sanctuary cities.

The comments come as ICE records for detentions and deportations have climbed, and several episodes involving agent use of force have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and state officials. In Austin, Texas, an ICE officer shot 28-year-old Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garces Perez while he was in his vehicle completing a food delivery for DoorDash; the man was hospitalized and later released into ICE custody. The Department of Homeland Security said the individual had "illegally entered" the U.S. during the Biden administration and had a final order of removal, a claim his lawyer has disputed.

The Austin shooting prompted calls for accountability from local leaders, including Rep. Greg Casar (D), who demanded "full transparency" as city investigators examined the incident. The Associated Press later reported the agent involved was not wearing a body camera. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) asked state police to probe a Grand Rapids pursuit involving an ICE vehicle that ended in a fatal crash; Mario David Coronado Juarez, a Guatemalan immigrant without permanent legal status, died after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop by an immigration agent.

Homan did not address those specific episodes during his remarks, instead blaming negative coverage on members of the media and pledging continued enforcement activity. "We're going to keep pushing. We're not going to apologize," he said, adding, "You got my word on that." His remarks underscore a federal posture prioritizing stepped-up enforcement even as state inquiries and congressional attention mount over the conduct of ICE agents.