WASHINGTON — Tom Homan, President Trump’s newly empowered Border Czar, is not softening his stance toward sanctuary jurisdictions — he’s doubling down. Backed by Trump’s promise to carry out the largest mass-deportation operation in American history, Homan has turned sanctuary cities into political and legal battlegrounds, warning mayors and state officials that they could face felony charges for interfering with federal immigration enforcement.

And unlike earlier Trump-era threats that were often blocked by courts, Homan’s 2025 crackdown is paired with aggressive DOJ action, renewed statutory authority, and cabinet-level backing. The message: Federal law is supreme, and sanctuary policies are in the crosshairs.

“If you’re not going to help us, get the hell out of our way.”

Homan’s rhetoric has become one of the administration’s defining features. In repeated interviews and field visits, he argues that sanctuary laws — which prevent local jails from honoring ICE detainers — directly lead to violent crimes that were “100% preventable.”

Among his signature lines:

“Every crime committed by an illegal alien was preventable.”

“Sanctuary politicians are harboring criminals. Period.”

“If you obstruct us, that is a felony. That is 8 U.S.C. 1324 — harboring, aiding, and abetting.”

He has repeatedly emphasized that federal law makes no exceptions for elected officials, and he won’t hesitate to recommend prosecutions.

The Legal Teeth Behind the Threat

Homan cites three key federal statutes when warning sanctuary leaders:

1. 8 U.S.C. §1324 — Harboring / Concealing an Alien

This makes it a felony to knowingly shield or obstruct the arrest of undocumented immigrants. Homan argues sanctuary policies do exactly that.

2. 18 U.S.C. §111 — Assaulting Federal Officers

Homan has told activists who block ICE buses or engage in mass “surround tactics”:
“You lay hands on my agents, you’re going to federal prison.”

3. Constitutional Supremacy Clause

Immigration is a federal power exclusively. The DOJ has weaponized this to sue New York City, San Francisco, and Denver for obstruction.

Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, these cases are moving faster — and hitting harder — than in Trump’s first term.

Where the Crackdown Has Landed So Far

New York City

DOJ sued NYC’s sanctuary framework in October.

Homan deployed “flood-the-zone” ICE teams for street arrests, blaming NYC’s refusal to honor jail detainers.

Chicago

Public threats of arrest for Mayor Brandon Johnson if he continues blocking ICE access.

Homan: “Chicago’s policies get people killed. This is personal.”

Denver

Mayor Mike Johnston publicly warned he could be jailed for defying detainer requests.

Homan: “Test us.”

Portland, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles

Expanded collateral arrests — meaning non-targeted undocumented immigrants encountered during operations are now routinely detained.

Homan blames sanctuary restrictions for forcing ICE away from safer jail pickups into neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Homan’s National Security Argument: “You can’t vet ghosts.”

Homan regularly cites the historic surge of illegal immigration since 2021, calling it the greatest national security threat in decades.

Over 10 million illegal crossings since the Biden presidency began.

Many from countries without reliable criminal databases — meaning U.S. authorities cannot verify background information.

“Terrorists and criminals don’t come with paperwork,” Homan says.
“If we can’t vet you, we can’t keep you here.”

This logic underpins the administration’s sweeping reviews of:

Asylum grants

TPS status (notably Somalis, Venezuelans, and Haitians)

Green cards issued since 2012

Afghan parolees from Operation Allies Welcome

Blue Cities Push Back — and Brace for Raids

Democratic leaders are calling Homan’s threats “authoritarian,” “reckless,” and “designed to terrorize immigrant communities.” Civil rights groups are preparing lawsuits. But the administration has the advantage this time: Federal law, federal courts, and overwhelming public concern about border security.

Even moderate Democrats admit privately that sanctuary policies have become a 2026 electoral liability.

Meanwhile, communities in Minneapolis, Boston, and San Francisco report ICE surveillance around schools, workplaces, and shelters — a preview of the spring 2026 escalation.

The 2026 Political Stakes

Republicans are betting big that a hardline enforcement wave will energize their base and peel off independents angry about immigration. Democrats remain divided between:

Those urging moderation (Spanberger-style centrists)

Those demanding defiance (Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, progressive mayors)

Homan shows no signs of slowing. He told Fox News last week:

“We’re just getting started.”

With the largest deportation operation in U.S. history ramping up — and resistance in blue cities escalating — the battle over sanctuary policies is poised to become a defining fight of 2026.