Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s designated Border Czar, has announced plans to reinstate family detention policies and ramp up strict immigration enforcement measures. The move marks a return to some of the controversial approaches previously implemented during Trump’s presidency.
Homan explained that immigration authorities would no longer allow undocumented individuals to remain in the U.S. solely because they have U.S.-born children. Families apprehended at the border will face two options: leave the country together or face separation.
“You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child,” Homan told The Washington Post. “You put your family in that position.”
To accommodate these policies, Homan revealed plans to construct additional family detention facilities, stating, “We’re going to need to construct family facilities. How many beds we’re going to need will depend on what the data says.”
The Trump administration also plans to revive the “Remain in Mexico” program, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their applications are processed. Additionally, workplace raids targeting employers hiring undocumented workers will be reinstated.
“The Biden administration has sent the wrong message by ending these enforcement measures,” Homan said. “We’re going to bring back these critical policies to secure our border and enforce the law.”
Comparison with Obama and Biden Administrations
Under the Obama administration, immigration policies focused on prioritizing deportations for individuals with criminal convictions, recent border crossers, or repeat immigration offenders. Family detention centers, such as the South Texas Family Residential Center and the Berks Family Residential Center, were used but faced criticism over conditions and prolonged detentions.
Critics also raised concerns about the harm to children’s physical and mental health and alleged violations of the Flores Settlement Agreement, which limits child detention to 20 days. Obama’s administration responded by expanding Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs like electronic monitoring and regular check-ins.
The Biden administration ended many Trump-era practices, including family detentions and workplace raids, and sought to prioritize more humane immigration approaches. However, Biden’s policies faced criticism for allegedly encouraging increased border crossings.
Criticism of Trump’s Proposed Policies
Immigration advocates argue that reinstating family detentions and the “Remain in Mexico” policy will expose migrants to dangerous conditions and violate human rights. Critics also highlight the lasting impact of Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy, which led to the separation of thousands of families and caused widespread backlash.
Despite these concerns, proponents of Trump’s policies claim they will reduce illegal crossings and enhance border security, while critics warn of the humanitarian and legal consequences of such measures.
