Border Czar Homan Announces Planned ICE Surge in New York Following Attack on ICE Complex

Border czar Tom Homan declared today that the Department of Homeland Security will launch a new immigration enforcement surge in New York, arguing the state has forced federal authorities to devote more resources after limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Homan made the statement during an interview with Rob Schmitt’s program, hours after authorities reported a man allegedly set fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan—a building housing ICE offices and other federal agencies. Federal investigators said the suspect poured what is believed to be gasoline on the steps of the complex, ignited the blaze using fireworks, and was subsequently taken into custody. The FBI has launched an investigation into the incident.

When asked about the attack and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s response, Homan blamed anti-ICE rhetoric from Democratic officials for encouraging violence against federal immigration officers. “It’s just another example of some idiot who believes the left’s talking points,” he stated, adding that such rhetoric empowers a small percentage of individuals to act out in ways they deem necessary.

Homan, President Donald Trump’s point man for border security and mass deportations, noted he has warned for more than a year that “the hateful rhetoric is going to end in bloodshed.” He said the incident “has many more [times] than I thought,” and emphasized, “It’s not over yet. More will happen unless these people shut their mouths and let ICE enforce the laws they enacted.”

Turning to immigration enforcement, Homan confirmed the administration intends to further expand ICE operations in New York despite state sanctuary policies. “We have already increased presence in New York,” he said. “We’re going to increase [our] presence more. We’re going to have a surge operation in New York. I’m not going to tell you when.”

Homan also criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to end cooperation agreements between ICE and local jails under the 287(g) program, stating that such legislation has made immigration arrests more difficult. “When Gov. Hochul signed legislation ending our relationship with 287(g)s,” he explained, “it means rather than one agent wrestling one bad guy in a jail, now we’ve got to send a whole team to do the same thing that took one agent to do.” He added that these changes require federal authorities to increase resources significantly.