Border Czar Slams Sanctuary City Policies

Homan says ICE isn't interested in talking to crime victims or witnesses

Mar. 25, 2026 at 10:33am

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During an interview on NewsNation's 'Katie Pavlich Tonight,' Border Czar Tom Homan criticized sanctuary city policies, arguing that they are 'a sanctuary for criminals' and that ICE is not interested in talking to crime victims or witnesses who are in the country illegally, but rather wants to talk to the 'guy that you locked in a jail cell'.

Why it matters

Sanctuary city policies have been a controversial topic, with proponents arguing they encourage crime victims and witnesses to come forward without fear of deportation, while critics like Homan claim they protect criminals. This debate highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and community policing.

The details

Homan was responding to the argument that sanctuary city policies are needed so crime victims and witnesses who are in the country illegally can come forward without fear. He dismissed this, saying 'That is a bunch of crap. Because we don't want to talk to the victim and witness. We want to talk to the guy that you locked in a jail cell.' Homan also criticized Chicago's 'welcoming ordinance,' calling it a 'sanctuary ordinance' that 'is a sanctuary for criminals' and claiming the 'worst of the worst are going to go to these cities because they're going to be protected'.

  • The interview aired on Tuesday's broadcast of NewsNation's 'Katie Pavlich Tonight'.

The players

Tom Homan

Border Czar and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Katie Pavlich

Host of NewsNation's 'Katie Pavlich Tonight'.

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What they’re saying

“That is a bunch of crap. Because we don't want to talk to the victim and witness. We want to talk to the guy that you locked in a jail cell, and I guarantee you, the victim and witness to that crime, they don't want the bad guy released back into their neighborhood either.”

— Tom Homan, Border Czar

The takeaway

Homan's comments highlight the ongoing debate over sanctuary city policies and the tension between immigration enforcement and community policing. While proponents argue these policies encourage crime reporting, critics like Homan claim they protect criminals and undermine public safety.