Border czar Tom Homan told Newsmax on Monday 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's comments on Newsmax's "Rob Schmitt Tonight" came hours after authorities said a man allegedly set a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, which houses ICE offices and other federal agencies.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly poured what is believed to be gasoline on the building's steps, ignited the blaze with fireworks, and was taken into custody. The FBI is investigating the incident.
Asked about the attack and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's response, Homan blamed what he called anti-ICE rhetoric from Democrat officials for encouraging violence against federal immigration officers.
"It's just another example of some idiot that believes the left's talking points," said Homan, President Donald Trump's point man for border security and mass deportations. "Their talking points are making an impact for that small percentage of really crazy people. ... They empower them to do something stupid because they believe the left's talking points."
Homan said he has warned for more than a year that "the hateful rhetoric is going to end in bloodshed."
"And it has many more [times] than I thought," he said. "And it's not over yet. More will happen unless these people shut their mouths and let ICE enforce the laws that they enacted."
Turning to immigration enforcement, Homan said the administration intends to further expand ICE operations in New York despite the state's 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 said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to end cooperation agreements between ICE and local jails has made immigration arrests more difficult.
"When Gov. Hochul signed legislation ending our relationship with 287(g)s [program], ending our relationship with jails, that 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," Homan said. "So of course, we've got to increase resources because she took the efficiencies away."
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