Former ICE Director Tom Homan, serving as the White House "border czar," denied that British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos received preferential treatment following his arrest and deportation. Homan stated Yiannopoulos overstayed his visa, missed a hearing, and was ordered removed by a judge, with ICE executing that order.
The case highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement, due process, and potential preferential treatment for individuals with political connections or public profiles within the US immigration system.
Tom Homan, designated as the White House "border czar" and formerly the director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on Sunday refuted claims that British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos received preferential treatment following his arrest and subsequent deportation.
Homan explained that it was his understanding that Yiannopoulos, 41, had overstayed his visitor visa, failed to appear for an immigration hearing, and consequently received a final order of removal on July 22. "He didn’t show up," Homan stated on CNN's State of the Union. "The judge ordered him deported. So, once ICE gets an order of deportation from a federal judge, their job is to execute that order, and that’s what they did."
He emphasized that Yiannopoulos had due process and was ordered removed by a federal judge, with ICE fulfilling its duty to execute that order. The swiftness of Yiannopoulos's deportation, occurring just one day after his arrest and prior to lengthy detentions often experienced by others facing removal, had raised questions about potential preferential treatment.
Homan noted that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, is working to enhance the efficiency of the deportation process. "Once a judge orders them out, rather than being in detention, waiting for travel documents and flight arrangements, we – ICE, along with the [border patrol] and [DHS] – [are] working really good on the efficiencies of the removal process," he said. He added that the goal is to remove individuals as quickly as possible after a removal order is issued to free up detention beds.
DHS had announced Yiannopoulos's arrest on Thursday at an airport in New Orleans, possibly in connection with attending a concert. By Saturday morning, his removal from ICE detention and confirmation of his deportation to the UK had been publicized. A DHS release stated Yiannopoulos "chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws."
When asked if rightwing influencer Laura Loomer had tipped off ICE about Yiannopoulos's expired permission to be in the U.S., Homan acknowledged that many people contact ICE, and Loomer was likely among them. However, he reiterated that the core reason for the deportation was the judge's removal order and ICE's execution of it.
Homan also denied that the Trump administration had used Yiannopoulos's case as a political example, stating, "We don’t deport people based on political affiliation."