Donald Trump announced that former ICE Director Tom Homan will oversee the U.S. borders and deportations in his new administration. Homan’s jurisdiction includes the southern and northern borders as well as maritime and aviation security. Trump also designated him as the “border czar,” a role focused on enforcing stringent immigration policies, including mass deportations.
Homan, who previously served during Trump’s first term, has been vocal about supporting Trump’s hardline immigration stance. He is a strong candidate for the Secretary of Homeland Security, and at the Republican National Convention, he made it clear that undocumented immigrants who entered under the Biden administration should “start packing.” Homan has also promised to lead an unprecedented deportation force if Trump returns to office.
Trump’s stance on the environment under a second term has alarmed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff. During his previous administration, Trump repealed over 100 environmental regulations and significantly cut the agency’s budget. EPA staff are now bracing for more cuts and regulatory rollbacks, with many planning to leave the agency if Trump follows through on further deregulation plans that they feel could dismantle critical protections against pollution.
Tom Homan
As part of their preparation for Trump’s potential return, EPA staff are taking measures to distance themselves from the agency’s administrative framework. Union leaders are moving their operations out of EPA headquarters and separating union dues from federal payroll systems to protect their members from what they fear will be political interference and retaliation against environmental protections.
In U.S. political developments, Joe Biden invited Trump to the White House to discuss a transition of power. Trump won the presidential election after Biden’s controversial withdrawal from the race due to questions about his cognitive health. Some Democrats blame Biden’s delayed exit for the party’s inability to field a competitive candidate, which led to Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss in the election.
The Republican Party is close to securing a majority in the House of Representatives, which would significantly enhance Trump’s ability to implement his agenda. With a Senate majority already in place, the GOP is only a few seats away from taking control of the House. If successful, Republicans would gain legislative control over tax and spending policies, and border security, and potentially initiate impeachment proceedings.
Tom Homan
Trump’s immigration policies have sparked concerns about the human impact of mass deportations, particularly on families with mixed immigration status. Advocacy groups warn that his plan would require extensive infrastructure and might involve detainment camps. They also anticipate that he may reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which was ended by Biden due to concerns about safety and human rights for asylum seekers.
Homan, however, assured in a recent interview that deportations under Trump’s plan would be executed in a “humane manner” by ICE. He emphasized that the operation would target individuals who are well-documented by ICE and assured that the agency’s agents are skilled in handling these procedures professionally.
In international relations, Trump has hinted at potentially reducing U.S. military support to Ukraine, stirring concern among European allies. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged restraint in speculating about Trump’s policies, emphasizing that Ukraine should have control over the timing and terms of any negotiations with Russia. European leaders are cautious but hope Trump will continue to support NATO’s defensive commitments.
Trump’s comments during his campaign suggested that he could broker an end to the Ukraine conflict “within a day,” though he did not provide specific strategies. Rumors circulated that Trump had already spoken to Putin, but the Kremlin denied any recent conversation between the two leaders. Russian officials dismissed these reports as “pure fiction,” asserting that there has been no contact.
