Trump border czar: 'We are going to take the handcuffs off ICE' after inauguration

President-elect Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan said the incoming administration is going to take “handcuffs” off of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the inauguration next week, allowing the agency to do “their job.”

“ICE is finally going to go out and do their job. We're going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens. That's what's going to happen,” Homan said during his Friday night appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

Homan argued that during the previous four years, under the President Biden administration, ICE was not able “to do much” due to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ leadership.

“Secretary of Homeland Security has told ICE that you can't arrest an illegal alien if he's just here illegally. He's got to be convicted of a serious crime or be a national security threat. He told immigration officers not to enforce immigration law,” Homan said “Well, we're telling ICE you're going to enforce immigration law without apology.”

ICE’s first action under the new administration is reportedly coming on Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday night that Trump’s team is planning an immigration raid in Chicago to begin on Tuesday morning, citing four sources familiar with the planning. Between 100 and 200 officers will be there to carry out the operation which will last all week, the Journal reported.

“There going to be big raids all across the country,” Homan said on Fox News. “Chicago is just one in many places. If we got 24 field offices across the country on Tuesday, you can expect ICE.”

Homan has had a contentious relationship with Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), calling out both him and the state’s Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) last month.

"Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks," Homan said during the Northwest Side GOP holiday party, warning that he would prosecute Johnson if he impedes ICE’s operations.

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