Top Points:
National Security Crisis Due to Open Border Policies: Tom Homan criticizes the Biden administration’s open-border policies for creating a national security crisis, allowing cartels to operate freely and bring in criminals, potential terrorists, and dangerous drugs across the southern border.
Impact on American Communities: Homan emphasizes that cartels are exploiting the weakened border, leading to a rise in fentanyl trafficking that has killed thousands of American citizens, while dangerous individuals on terror watchlists are apprehended crossing into the U.S.
Call for Immediate Action: Homan urges the administration to enforce existing immigration laws, secure the border, and prioritize the safety of American citizens, as the current approach has led to significant public health and security risks.
Full Report:
At CPAC in DC 2024, former ICE Director Tom Homan issued a stern warning about the dangers posed by the Biden administration's open-border policies. Homan argues that these policies have paved the way for an unprecedented national security crisis, allowing cartels to infiltrate American communities with criminals, terrorists, and lethal drugs that continue to kill American citizens.
Homan, known for his commitment to secure borders and decades of experience in immigration enforcement, didn’t mince words when he criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border. “This isn’t just a border crisis—it’s a national security crisis,” he said, emphasizing that the administration’s lax policies have emboldened cartels to exploit the weakened border security.
According to Homan, the Biden administration’s actions, or lack thereof, have created a welcoming environment for cartels to expand their reach. By refusing to enforce existing immigration laws and effectively halting the border wall construction, the administration has left the door wide open for criminal elements. “The cartels are running our border right now,” Homan stated. “They’re funneling in not only drugs but also criminals and potential terrorists. These are people we know mean harm to American citizens, and they’re walking right across.”
Statistics from Customs and Border Protection support Homan's warnings. In fiscal year 2024, CBP reported a dramatic rise in drug seizures, including fentanyl, a synthetic opioid far more potent than heroin. The CDC has identified fentanyl as the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, with over 70,000 fatalities recorded last year alone. Homan pointed out that much of the fentanyl responsible for these deaths is manufactured by Mexican cartels with ingredients from China, transported across the now-porous U.S.-Mexico border.
Homan also warned of the security threat posed by potential terrorists crossing into the U.S. According to recent reports, there have been a record number of individuals on the terror watchlist apprehended at the southern border. "When you open the floodgates, it’s not just innocent people looking for a better life who come in. Terrorists, criminals, people who want to harm Americans—they see this weakness and exploit it,” Homan argued, referencing recent Border Patrol apprehensions.
Despite the Biden administration’s reassurances that the border is under control, Homan and other national security experts contend that the policies in place are creating long-term dangers for American communities. Homan further criticized DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for “downplaying the threat” and ignoring the growing security and public health concerns. “This administration is failing in its primary duty—to protect American citizens,” Homan asserted.
While the Biden administration continues to deflect criticisms and push back against demands for stricter enforcement, Homan and others in the law enforcement community are calling for immediate changes. For Homan, the solution is straightforward: enforce the laws on the books, secure the border, and stop incentivizing illegal crossings.
“American lives are at stake here. We’re seeing a direct line between the administration’s open-border policies and the deaths in our communities due to drug overdoses and violent crime,” Homan concluded. His message is clear: America’s safety should come before politics, and until the border is secured, the country will continue to face the dire consequences of the Biden administration's approach.
References:
Fox News Interview with Tom Homan
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Annual Drug Seizure Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)