Border czar and Catholic Tom Homan recently joined The World Over With Raymond Arroyo on EWTN and provided an update on what’s really happening on our southern border as part of what is arguably the largest immigration enforcement operation in United States history.
As the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has been caught up in a whirlwind of media ire for its deployment of agents across the country, Homan reminded Arroyo that these operations are prioritizing arresting and deporting individuals who are threats to public safety and national security.
Despite what the media says, Homan notes, the majority of those arrested by ICE have a criminal history. It has been a record year for deportations (600,000 since President Trump took office this term), he says, but what’s most important is that so far, more than 62,000 children have been rescued from terrible situations, found in forced labor and sex trafficking systems.
During the Biden administration, half a million minors were smuggled into this country, but they lost track of 300,000 of these children, according to Homan. Of the 62,000 children found so far, some, thankfully, were just with their families. But too many were found working as sex slaves or in forced labor. This part of the story gets almost no coverage by the media.
“President Trump is not going to give up on these children,” Homan said. “Personally, I’ll do everything I can until I take my last breath on this earth to find these kids.”
Border Czar @RealTomHoman calls on the @USCCB to come talk to him and work together on the immigration issue. pic.twitter.com/sN26Jxdgwn
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) December 12, 2025
Arroyo mentioned how the USCCB condemned this administration’s enforcement operations and Pope Leo XIV’s own comments criticizing what he characterizes as “extremely disrespectful” treatment of migrants. “How do you reconcile those comments with your faith and your duties?” Arroyo asked.
“Enforcing the law is an important part of Catholic teaching,” Homan replied, adding that he is willing to sit down and talk with anybody from the Catholic Church about this issue.
“If we don’t enforce the laws, what message does that send to the world?” he asked, remarking that under the Biden administration, a record number of people – hundreds of thousands – died from fentanyl that came into America across the southern border. There was a historic increase in sex trafficking in women and children during those four years in addition to a record number of terrorists who entered our country. Furthermore, more than four thousand migrants died trying to cross the unsecured border.
“Do I think the immigration system needs to be fixed? Absolutely,” Homan said. “But ignoring the law only puts people in jeopardy.”
“Enforcing the law saves lives,” he continued. The border wall itself, which the pope has attacked, saves lives, he says, noting that if you cross the Vatican’s border wall and get arrested, the penalties are much harsher than how immigration has been enforced here in the United States.
Arroyo asked if any of the bishops in the US had reached out to him. “No,” Homan replied, “but I would love to sit down with them…Come talk to me and let’s work together on this.”
Reacting to the controversy regarding St. Susanna Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, where the Holy Family was found absent from the nativity scene and replaced by a sign that says “ICE was here”, Homan asked, “Do they understand that ICE is prioritizing public safety threats? And this continued hateful rhetoric means more people are going to show up.” Threats against ICE officers have gone up 1,800%.
The incredible irony, Homan observed, is that more than half of the Border Patrol agents are Hispanic and ICE itself has a large Hispanic contingency within its ranks – a majority of whom are practicing Catholics. These agents “have saved thousands of lives, putting a lot of bad people in jail,” Homan says.
Addressing the allegations that arrested migrants are being treated inhumanely at the detention facilities, Homan claimed ICE has “the highest detention standards in the industry.”
Homan’s overarching message to Catholic leadership is this: “Come with me, hang out with me for a couple of days, and let me show you why illegal immigration is not a victimless crime.”
Catholics For Catholics has chosen Tom Homan to receive the Protector of America Award. This award will be presented by Gen. Michael Flynn and Catholics For Catholics on January 22, 2026, under the intercession and protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, in recognition for rescuing 62,000 migrant children from human trafficking and restoring law and order in America. To learn more about this important event, click here.
