United States President-elect Donald Trump late Sunday picked Tom Homan, former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the role of 'border czar' in his administration. The move signals Trump's intent to enact stringent immigration policies after he takes office.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders ('The Border Czar'), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security."

Highlighting their longstanding professional relationship, Trump added, "I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long-awaited job."

Who is Tom Homan?

Homan, a notable figure in Trump's previous administration, gained recognition as a strong advocate for strict immigration enforcement. He contributed to Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative policy blueprint for the next Republican presidency, though Trump had distanced himself from the initiative during his campaign.

In a recent appearance on CBS' '60 Minutes', Homan discussed Trump's pledge to initiate mass deportations. He stated that deportation efforts would be targeted and denied exaggerated claims circulating in the media. “It is not going to be a mass sweep of neighbourhoods. It is not going to be building concentration camps. I have read it all. It is ridiculous," Homan emphasized.

Homan's influence in the Trump circle was underscored by his speech at the Republican National Convention in July, where he addressed undocumented immigrants released during the Biden administration. "I got a message to the millions of illegal aliens that Joe Biden has released into our country in violation of federal law: You better start packing now," he declared in Milwaukee. "You are damn right."

A seasoned law enforcement official, Homan was the public face of Trump's early immigration policies, often appearing at White House briefings to defend ICE operations, advocate for stronger enforcement measures, and criticize sanctuary city policies. His stance that undocumented immigrants "should be afraid" drew significant attention and debate.

Homan's leadership during the first Trump administration coincided with a record number of immigrant children being placed in US custody. In 2017, he stated at a public event that ICE would arrest undocumented individuals who stepped forward to care for those children -- an approach that previous administrations had typically avoided.

Currently, a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, Homan has maintained his advocacy for robust immigration policies. As a contributor to Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership, he has previously expressed his intent to "run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen".

With Homan's appointment, Trump is reinforcing his hardline stance on immigration, signaling that his upcoming term will likely focus on strict border security measures and large-scale deportation initiatives.