Homan Reveals Toll Border Czar Position Has Taken On His Personal Life
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s handpicked border czar and former acting ICE Director, revealed this week that death threats tied to his no-nonsense immigration policies have forced him to live separately from his wife.
In an interview with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on her “Pod Force One” podcast, Homan opened up about the personal toll of defending America’s borders in an era of left-wing hostility toward law enforcement.
“I spent a lot of time with my boys growing up, but as I got more and more — climbed the ladder of what I’ve done with ICE director and now back — I don’t see my family very much,” Homan said.
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View Plans“My wife’s living separately from me right now, mainly because I worked for many hours, but mostly because of the death threats against me,” he added. “She’s someplace else. I see her as much as I can, but the death threats against me and my family are outrageous.”
Homan, a no-compromise lawman who previously served under President Trump during his first term, retired after Democrats in the Senate stonewalled his permanent appointment. But after Trump’s commanding 2024 victory over Kamala Harris, he returned to serve once again in defense of the southern border.
“I was the first person he called, bringing back, which, again, was a proud moment,” Homan recalled. “I was actually out to dinner with my wife, and then my phone rang, and I looked down, and it says, ‘POTUS.’ And my wife says, ‘He’s asking him to come back, isn’t he?’”
Homan didn’t hesitate. “So I walked outside, and the first thing he said to me was, ‘You’ve been bitching about it for four years. Well, come back and fix it.’ So how do you say no?”
As Homan doubles down on border security, his agency made headlines this week for nabbing 11 Iranian nationals—one of whom was identified as a trained sharpshooter in Iran’s military—during coordinated ICE raids following the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
The most notable arrest: Ribvar Karimi, who served four years in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army before obtaining a U.S. visa under the Biden administration’s lax vetting policies. Karimi entered the country on a K-1 fiancé visa, supposedly to marry a U.S. citizen, but never adjusted his status—making him a deportable threat.
ICE agents confirmed that Karimi was carrying an official card identifying him as a member of Iran’s military. His presence in the U.S. comes just days after Tehran threatened retaliation for President Trump’s precision strikes on Iranian nuclear weapons facilities.
“Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are.”
LOCUST, Ala. — We arrested Ribvar Karimi for an immigration violation June 22. He reportedly served as an IRANIAN ARMY SNIPER from 2018 to 2021.
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 25, 2025
🚨He had an Islamic Republic of Iran Army identification card in his possession when we arrested him!
His failure to adjust his… pic.twitter.com/62vjdCULH1
“We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland,” she added.
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View PlansKarimi was arrested in Locust, Alabama. Details surrounding his alleged fiancé remain unclear, but his presence in the country under a K-1 visa obtained during the Biden era highlights the catastrophic failure of that administration’s border and immigration enforcement.
With Trump back in charge and the adults once again at the table, DHS is finally empowered to act with strength and clarity. But the threats—and the damage—left behind by the previous administration remain real.