Border czar Tom Homan has issued a stark warning to New York Governor Kathy Hochul: cooperate with federal immigration enforcement or face a flood of ICE agents in sanctuary communities across the state.
At a Glance
- Tom Homan warned Governor Hochul that ICE agents will “flood” New York if she doesn’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement
- Homan praised NYC Mayor Eric Adams for his collaboration with the Trump administration on immigration issues
- Republican lawmakers are pushing to repeal New York’s Green Light Law and pass the Laken Riley Act
- Hochul’s office responded that she supports secure borders but won’t help “tear babies away from their parents”
Homan Delivers Ultimatum to New York State
Speaking at a Republican assembly in Albany, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan didn’t mince words about the consequences of New York continuing its sanctuary policies. The former ICE director made it clear that Governor Hochul’s refusal to align with federal immigration enforcement will result in exactly what sanctuary jurisdictions don’t want – more federal agents in their communities. This hard-line approach signals the administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws with or without state cooperation, effectively putting Democratic strongholds like New York on notice that the sanctuary city free ride is coming to an end.
“Sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don’t want: more agents in the community,” Homan declared during his address, making it abundantly clear that non-cooperation will have consequences. The border czar’s comments came during a rally where Republican lawmakers were advocating for the repeal of New York’s Green Light Law – which allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses – and pushing for passage of the Laken Riley Act, named after the nursing student allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant who had been released due to sanctuary policies.
Border Czar, Tom Homan is in New York today! He announced his support for our NY Corrections Officers, and I stand with them too.
Our Border crossings are down by an incredible 96%, with around 35,000 arrests since President Trump took office. Families are safer, and drug… pic.twitter.com/dzuW5ARjYc
— Liz Joy (@LizLemeryJoy) March 12, 2025
The Tale of Two New York Leaders
In a striking contrast that highlights the divide in how Democratic officials are responding to the immigration crisis, Homan praised NYC Mayor Eric Adams while criticizing Governor Hochul. According to Homan, Adams has been remarkably cooperative with the federal government on immigration issues, with the border czar planning a third meeting with the mayor. This unexpected alliance between the Trump administration and the Democratic mayor of the nation’s largest city demonstrates that some Democratic leaders are recognizing the unsustainability of unchecked illegal immigration, especially as their cities bear the brunt of the financial and social costs.
The border czar didn’t just stop at praising Adams’ cooperation – he went further to describe the mayor as a “law and order” leader who’s right for New York City. This endorsement from a key Trump administration official signals a potential fracturing of the previously united Democratic front on immigration policy, with practical city leaders increasingly breaking with the more ideological state and federal progressives. Homan even accused Hochul of trying to undermine Adams’ efforts to work with the federal government on managing the immigration crisis.
Political Backlash and Defensive Posturing
Governor Hochul’s office quickly responded to Homan’s statements with a carefully worded statement that attempted to thread the needle between appearing tough on border security while still opposing Trump administration policies. The governor’s spokesperson claimed Hochul supports secure borders and deporting violent criminals, but won’t help with policies they characterize as separating families – a reference to past border enforcement controversies that Democrats continue to weaponize despite their own failures to address the current border disaster.
Homan’s appearance in Albany didn’t go unchallenged by the state’s progressive lawmakers. Democratic Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani confronted the border czar over immigration detention practices, demonstrating the deep political divide on immigration enforcement. This theatrical confrontation highlights how immigration has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics, with progressives continuing to prioritize the interests of non-citizens over the safety and financial well-being of their actual constituents – a stance that appears increasingly out of touch with mainstream Americans concerned about border security.
