Politics

‘Either she helps us or gets the hell out of the way’: Trump’s border czar attacks Wu over comments on mass deportation plans

Tom Homan, a former acting director for I.C.E., is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the administration’s “border czar.”

Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg

updated on November 25, 2024

3 minutes to read

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar” has responded to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s recent comments about the city’s approach to the mass deportations planned under the incoming administration.

Wu has said in recent media appearances that Boston’s resources and personnel, including police, are not expected to cooperate with federal agents attempting to detain migrants on civil warrants.

“The idea that certain local law enforcement agencies will be required, or will be expected, to participate in mass deportations of residents who have not been part of serious criminal activity just to fulfill this campaign promise, this is not something that is possible under the laws in Boston,” Wu said last week on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.”

Tom Homan, who has been tapped to be Trump’s border czar, addressed Wu’s recent comments in an appearance on Newsmax Monday evening.

“She’s not very smart, I’ll give her that,” he said. “What I just said is President Trump is going to prioritize public safety threats.”

Promises to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants was a hallmark of Trump’s campaign. Homan, a former Border Patrol agent who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017 and 2018, has said he plans to “run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

The president-elect’s plans could cost more than $300 billion, exacerbate labor shortages, and require hiring hundreds of thousands of new government employees and law enforcement officers, researchers estimate.

“Either she helps us or gets the hell out of the way because we’re going to do it,” Homan said of Wu on Monday. “And look, there’s a clear line here. And they can’t cross the clear line. I would suggest she read title eight, United States Code 1324 III that says you can’t harbor or conceal illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. So I hope she don’t cross that line. They can not cooperate, but there are certain laws in place that they can’t cross and I hope she doesn’t cross it.”

Homan responds to Boston’s Mayor: I suggests she read title eight, United States Code 1324 III that says, you can't harbor or conceal an illegal alien from federal law enforcement. So I hope she don't cross that line. pic.twitter.com/HUhIF3Y4r5
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 19, 2024

In Boston, an existing law prohibits Boston police officers from coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a number of scenarios. But, law enforcement can work with immigration officials on “matters of significant public safety importance, such as human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking, and cybercrimes,” Wu said during an appearance on WCVB’s “On The Record” on Sunday.

Wu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening. But when asked Monday about the possibility of Boston potentially being targeted by the federal government, the mayor said the city is “always held up as a national example of what’s possible.”

“That historically can be used to try to tear down what it means for a community to be welcoming to all but it’s also even more important right now to provide proof of government working well,” she said.

Update: Wu responded with the following statement Wednesday morning:

“They can say whatever they want about me, but our public safety record speaks for itself: Boston is the safest major city in America. Our homicide rates are among the lowest of any city nationally, and gun violence has been at an all-time historic low over the last two years here in Boston. This is no coincidence—it’s a reflection of the trust between our residents and our public safety officials, and a result of our daily focus on community policing and coordinating city services. We will continue to focus on that work and have no intention of rolling out the welcome mat for them.”