Homan Dares GOP Critics to 'Give Me an Example' of ICE Going Too Far as Republicans Break Ranks

Border czar Tom Homan is defending the Trump administration's immigration crackdown against a growing chorus of Republican critics, telling them to name a case where ICE overreached. "Give me an example of where we went too far. That's a pretty bold statement to make," Homan said in an interview with CBS News.

The challenge was aimed at Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican who released a campaign ad last month warning that Hispanic voters who backed President Trump "feel betrayed" by some enforcement actions. Salazar has said certain operations have "gone too far," pointing to figures showing that many ICE detainees have no criminal history. Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia has also raised concerns about the aggressive approach.

Homan said the administration is going after public safety threats, but he made clear that anyone in the country illegally is a target. "If you're in the country illegally, you got a problem. You shouldn't be here," he said. He insisted that people arrested get due process. "Everybody we arrest has an opportunity to see a judge and plead their case," he said. He called much of the criticism "about hate on this administration and taking on Trump," and noted that arrest and deportation numbers were also high under President Obama, when he was a senior ICE official.

The pushback comes after deadly incidents. Over the summer, ICE agents shot and killed two migrants during traffic stops. Earlier this year, two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by immigration agents in the Minneapolis area. Good's family filed lawsuits against federal officials this week, and Homan is named as a defendant in at least one.

Asked about Good's death, Homan called it tragic and said he was not involved in the investigation. "I don't want to see any tragedies happen. I wish Renee Good was alive today. I wish that incident [didn't] happen, but it happened, and it's being investigated," he said. "I don't want to see anybody die."

Homan said Republican skeptics should learn more about how the agency works. "I wish they'd sit down and talk to ICE. I wish they'd find out: What is ICE doing? How are they doing it? And educate themselves," he said.

The split matters politically because immigration enforcement was a centerpiece of Trump's campaign, while Hispanic voters were a key part of his coalition. With the midterms about a month away, a recent NBC News/Telemundo poll found Trump's approval rating falling among Latino voters, and Republicans in competitive districts are weighing how closely to tie themselves to the crackdown. Homan's response suggests the administration is not planning to change course before November.