Tom Homan delivered a stern message to New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a live television interview.
According to The Western Journal, Homan warned he would be "up his butt" if Adams fails to follow through on their agreement to allow ICE operations at Rikers Island.
The confrontational statement came after a closed-door meeting between Homan and Adams, where they reached an agreement to establish an ICE office at New York City's main jail complex. This development marks a significant shift in the city's approach to immigration enforcement, particularly concerning the handling of dangerous illegal immigrants.
The partnership represents a notable departure from typical Democratic positions on immigration enforcement. Adams, who was elected in 2021 on a law-and-order platform, defended the decision to collaborate with ICE despite potential criticism from his party's progressive wing.
Adams addressed concerns about ICE's role, emphasizing that the agency's presence at Rikers Island would focus specifically on dangerous criminals rather than indiscriminate enforcement. He specifically highlighted the importance of gang intelligence gathering and the role of NYPD correction officers in this initiative.
In response to fears about aggressive immigration enforcement, Adams stated:
The far left has hijacked this narrative ICE is running in our schools, ICE is running in our churches, and they are creating this frenzy. They're not in the business of just grabbing children. We need to just stop all this noise.
The announcement follows Homan's recent clash with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her "Know Your Rights" webinar, where she allegedly encouraged resistance against law enforcement raids. Homan responded by referring the matter to the Department of Justice for review.
The former ICE director questioned whether Ocasio-Cortez's statements constituted an impediment to law enforcement efforts. He sought guidance from the Department of Justice to determine if her actions crossed legal boundaries.
Ocasio-Cortez defended her position on social media, asserting her constitutional right to advise constituents about their rights during law enforcement encounters.
This development comes at a complex time for Mayor Adams, who recently faced legal challenges of his own. The Department of Justice dropped charges against him regarding alleged acceptance of foreign perks, though the dismissal was made "without prejudice," leaving open the possibility of future prosecution.
The collaboration between Homan and Adams demonstrates a pragmatic approach to immigration enforcement, focusing on targeting criminal elements while navigating political sensitivities. The initiative particularly aims to address concerns about the Tren de Aragua gang's operations in New York City.
The agreement also provides ICE with access to valuable intelligence gathered at Rikers Island, potentially enhancing the agency's ability to identify and track criminal organizations operating within the city.
Tom Homan and Eric Adams forged an unexpected partnership to establish ICE operations at Rikers Island, focusing on deporting dangerous illegal immigrants and gathering intelligence on criminal organizations. The agreement demonstrates a shift in New York City's approach to immigration enforcement under Adams' administration, despite potential criticism from progressive Democrats. While the collaboration faces political challenges, including opposition from Representative Ocasio-Cortez and ongoing legal issues surrounding Adams, both leaders emphasize the importance of targeting criminal elements while maintaining reasonable enforcement practices.
