Former ICE Director Tom Homan clashed with MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski on Tuesday over claims by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey that immigration officers are targeting churches and other sensitive spaces. Healey, a Democrat, alleged earlier in the morning that federal agents arrested an illegal immigrant outside a church, describing the person as having no criminal history.
Homan, appearing later on Morning Joe, forcefully rejected the governor’s characterization, accusing her of spreading fear. “To say that, and to push that out there, creates fear in the immigrant community,” Homan said. He insisted that ICE does not target houses of worship, but instead goes after dangerous criminals released by local authorities who ignore federal detainer requests.
Rather than stay on the defensive, Homan listed several of the individuals apprehended as part of “Patriot 2.0,” the latest ICE operation in Massachusetts. He highlighted Victor Gomez, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national charged with aggravated rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and indecent assault and battery on a minor under 14. He also cited the arrest of a Colombian national accused of aggravated assault on a pregnant woman and a Dominican national wanted for trafficking heroin, morphine, and opium.
“These are the people being picked up,” Homan said, visibly frustrated with Brzezinski’s skepticism. “Boston’s Mayor Wu, and Governor Healey, they ought to be calling ICE and thanking them for making their streets safer. Instead, they’ve turned a blind eye. Sanctuary cities and sanctuary states are sanctuaries for criminals.”
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Brzezinski pushed back, describing the presence of an ICE van outside a Spanish-speaking church as “a frightening sight” and demanding more comprehensive data about ICE activities. Homan responded that officers would much prefer to take custody of dangerous individuals inside jails rather than pursue them in neighborhoods, but sanctuary policies force agents into the community.
The clash comes amid escalating legal battles over Boston’s sanctuary city status. The Justice Department has filed suit against the city, citing its 2014 ordinance that prohibits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled Boston’s policies “among the worst of the worst” for shielding criminals.
Massachusetts courts have also complicated matters, following a 2017 ruling that civil immigration detainers cannot be used to justify holding a suspect. On Monday, House Speaker Ron Mariano confirmed that the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature has no plans to revisit immigration law this session, leaving the issue to fester as ICE continues its crackdown.
Liberals won’t actually learn anything, but it would be interesting to ask them about protecting illegal criminals.
Ask Mika and her ilk,”Okay, you want to protect illegal convicted criminals. We will put an ankle monitor on one and they will live with you for a year. You are required house, feed, and clothe them. Do you want to take home a robber, rapist, child molester, or murderer?”