Former ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) director Tom Homan has criticized the Biden administration for its “breathtaking level of incompetence” in handling the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border. Homan’s comments came amid reports of a significant increase in the number of migrants being detained and released in border communities under the Title 42 public health policy.
Title 42, which was enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, allows US border officials to immediately expel migrants apprehended at the border. However, the Biden administration has made exceptions for unaccompanied minors and certain family units.
According to Homan, the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis has led to a surge of illegal immigration, increased drug trafficking, and a heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission. He also criticized the administration’s decision to stop building the border wall and to end several Trump-era immigration policies, including the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA).
Homan’s comments come as the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to address the border crisis. Republican lawmakers have accused the administration of failing to enforce immigration laws and of encouraging illegal immigration by rolling back Trump-era policies. Democrats, on the other hand, have called for a more humane approach to immigration and have criticized the use of Title 42 to expel migrants.
The situation at the border remains a contentious issue, with no easy solutions in sight. The Biden administration has pledged to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty and violence in Central America, and to work with Mexico and other countries to improve border security. However, critics argue that the administration’s policies have only worsened the situation and that more needs to be done to secure the border and deter illegal immigration.