Watch: Tom Homan Ruins Kathy Hochul's Night With Unexpected Update on Trump Policy on Live TV

A growing showdown between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders in New York escalated this week after White House Border Czar Tom Homan warned that federal immigration enforcement in the state will dramatically increase if New York moves forward with legislation limiting cooperation with federal authorities.

The clash centers around new proposals backed by Democrats in New York that would reportedly restrict local law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and potentially prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks while conducting operations.

Conservatives argue the proposals directly interfere with the federal government’s constitutional authority to enforce immigration law under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution — the same constitutional principle many Democrats previously cited during legal disputes over border enforcement in states like Texas during the Biden administration.

Speaking Tuesday at an event in Arizona, Homan issued a blunt warning to Kathy Hochul and New York Democrats.

“You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen before,” Homan said, according to local reporting from WNYW.

Later that day, Hochul attempted to push back against the administration’s plans while insisting the federal government should not deploy additional immigration agents into New York without her approval.

“All I’ll say to Mr. Homan is that Donald Trump himself said he would not send a surge of ICE agents to the state of New York unless I ask,” Hochul stated. “I’m not asking.”

But during a Wednesday appearance on The Ingraham Angle with host Laura Ingraham, Homan made clear the administration has no intention of backing down.

“Well, Gov. Hochul, I’m not asking either,” Homan said while laughing. “I said it, we’re going to do it.”

Homan argued that sanctuary-style policies and restrictions on cooperation with ICE force federal agents into more dangerous operational environments by preventing arrests from taking place inside local jails.

According to Homan, when local jurisdictions refuse to honor immigration detainers or deny federal access to inmates, ICE agents are forced to locate and apprehend illegal immigrants directly in neighborhoods and communities.

“You’re forcing us into the neighborhoods to find this person,” Homan explained. “Now we’ve got to send a whole team out to find this person. So of course we’re going to increase manpower a lot.”

Homan also criticized Hochul’s claims that the legislation is designed to protect migrant communities.

“And not only that, she said she wants to protect the migrant communities — really?” he said.

The border czar further warned that individuals arrested in New York could instead be transferred to detention facilities in states like Texas or Arizona if New York officials continue blocking local cooperation.

“We’re going to arrest that illegal alien, we’re going to fly them to Texas or Arizona to one of the detention facilities there, away from their families, away from their attorneys,” Homan stated.

“This is what we have to do because she forces this position. And we’re going to do it. They’re not going to stop us. They can put all the roadblocks they want, but we’re going to do this job.”

The dispute reflects a broader national battle over immigration enforcement as current President of the United States Donald Trump continues implementing aggressive border and deportation policies during his second term.

Republicans argue the federal government is once again enforcing immigration law after years of what conservatives describe as deliberate neglect under former President Joe Biden.

Democrats, meanwhile, continue accusing the administration of overreach and using fear-based immigration tactics that could damage relationships between immigrant communities and local authorities.

With New York lawmakers still considering additional restrictions on ICE operations, the standoff between Albany and the White House appears poised to intensify in the coming months.