Trump overturns his own DHS, orders ICE back into traffic stops
Barely 24 hours after the Department of Homeland Security quietly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to stand down on vehicle stops nationwide, President Donald Trump did a U-turn.
Trump overturned the pause on Wednesday, and according to sources familiar with the matter, he was furious.
'Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won't happen on my watch.'
Trump made the call himself, first on Truth Social, writing that "we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.'s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!"
He added that the "Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won't happen on my watch" and that the agency should "be judicious, fair and smart" going forward.
The reversal capped a chaotic 24 hours. The DHS sent officials word via email on Tuesday pausing all vehicle stops "immediately" and instructing officials "to prioritize other existing operational methods, outside of vehicle stops, to conduct immigration enforcement activities," according to ABC News, which reviewed the email.
By Wednesday morning, the White House confirmed with Fox News that Trump had overturned the memo, calling it an internal directive that didn't reflect broader policy.
Border czar Tom Homan downplayed the original pause on Fox News, insisting the DHS just wanted to review the recent shootings and any training gaps.
"It's not a policy change; it's a temporary pause," Homan said, adding that the decision was made by "the secretary along with leadership at ICE."
RELATED: ICE slams the brakes on vehicle stops nationwide: Report
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin was already under pressure before Trump weighed in. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she spoke to Mullin Monday night and personally urged him to halt "non-urgent vehicle stops."
Once Trump's reversal went public, Mullin didn't directly address whether stops would actually resume. Instead, he pivoted to attacking Democrats, writing on X that DHS' "#1 goal is to keep our officers safe and get criminals OFF our streets," and telling anyone in the country illegally to "LEAVE NOW."
The whiplash traces back to the fatal shootings of two men during ICE enforcement operations in the last week: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7 and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday. A third man died Tuesday in Florida after being struck by a tractor trailer while fleeing federal agents, according to authorities.
In the wake of the shootings, the DHS also pledged to rapidly deploy body cameras to ICE officers nationwide.
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'Now you've FORCED us': Homan says NY governor's effort to protect illegal aliens will BACKFIRE in Glenn Beck interview
Border czar Tom Homan said the efforts by Democrats in New York to protect illegal aliens from deportation are going to backfire very soon.
During an interview with Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck, Homan argued that the sanctuary city policies made everything worse for the public as well as the immigrant community.
'It results in more agents in the streets, it results in more collateral arrests, and it's a community safety issue, when you release a public safety threat back into the public.'
He said the Justice Department was filing lawsuits to combat the sanctuary city policies and then held up Minnesota as a successful example of local authorities cooperating with federal law enforcement.
"The way we fixed Minnesota, we gained support from the local sheriffs so we can arrest the bad guy in the safety and security of a jail, which is safer for the agent, safer for the alien, and safer for the community," Homan said.
He said this led to "unprecedented support" from Minnesota officials and safer detentions and removals. Homan said he tried to explain the same to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.
"I explained this to Governor Hochul. And I said, 'When you force us into the street, we gotta send teams out there to do that.' And when we find the bad guy, which we will, many times they're with others, others that are in the country illegally. May not be a public safety threat, but they're coming too."
"It results in more agents in the streets, it results in more collateral arrests, and it's a community safety issue when you release a public safety threat back into the public," he added.
When Beck asked how Hochul responded, Homan laughed and said she signed the sanctuary policies despite his warning.
"And that's why I told her, 'OK, now you've forced us to send more agents to New York to enforce immigration law, when it would have taken less because you took the efficiencies of the jail away,'" he continued.
"And what she's ignoring is the fact, now we can't rent a bed from the sheriff," Homan said. "So every illegal alien we arrest in New York will be immediately put on an airplane and sent out of the state. How does that benefit the immigrant community?"
"They have no access to their family because we moved them out of state," Homan continued. "So, this wasn't about protecting the immigrant community. This is about her supporting sanctuary policy."
RELATED: California Democrat calls for ICE to be abolished after 'record' illegal alien arrests
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's attempt to protect illegal immigrants just completely backfired, @RealTomHoman tells me. Here’s what will happen next:
“What sanctuary cities are causing, because of their policies, is we're going to flood the zone.
I told her, ‘Okay, now you've… pic.twitter.com/Ceg0JnJ3gj
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) July 7, 2026
He concluded that the administration is forced to respond with a surge into New York.
"What sanctuary cities are causing, because of their policies, is we're going to flood the zone," Homan said.
"All these new resources are going to be assigned to sanctuary cities because that's where the problem is. We don't have that problem in Florida. We don't have that problem in Texas. The sheriffs and chiefs are working with us," he added.
Homan also recently revealed that ICE had arrested a record 10,000 illegal aliens in a five-day period, and the agency was ramping up to increase those arrests even further.
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Another top Trump official is on the way out
Markwayne Mullin, who took over as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security following Kristi Noem's ouster in March, announced Thursday that there is going to be another senior personnel change at his agency.
Todd Lyons will leave the role of acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, effective May 31.
'A phenomenal patriot and dedicated leader.'
"Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities," said Mullin. "He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years."
"We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector," added Mullin.
Lyons is a veteran ICE official who has served with the agency since 2007.
Around the time he entered the role of acting director in March 2025 — following the demotion of his predecessor, Caleb Vitello — Noem characterized Lyons as a work horse who, with border czar Tom Homan, had done "incredible work cleaning up our communities and making them safer."
In the months since, Lyons has been on the receiving end of relentless abuse by anti-ICE activists such as New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver (D), who subjected him to a 3.5-minute rant during a congressional hearing in February. After questioning Lyons' religiosity, McIver asked him, "How do you think Judgment Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?"
The radical Democrat who allegedly assaulted ICE officers last year, asked further, "Do you think you're going to hell, Mr. Lyons?"
When disgraced ex-California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) demanded Lyons' resignation in February, he refused, later stating, "I will not resign, because I believe in the rule of law and will continue to uphold my oath."
A pair of unnamed U.S. officials told CBS News that Lyons was planning to leave the federal government to spend more time with family, including his sons, in Massachusetts.
Prioritizing family was also DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's apparent reason for resigning earlier this year.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said in a statement that Lyons is "a phenomenal patriot and dedicated leader who has been at the center of President Trump's historic efforts to secure our homeland and reverse the Democrats' sinister border invasion."
Homan said in a statement obtained by CNN, "I commend him for a distinguished law enforcement career and the countless contributions he has made to protect our country and advance its interests."
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'More arrests to come': Bondi shares photos of anti-ICE agitators now charged with crimes
In a sudden turn of events, anti-ICE protesters are now being arrested, with some members of the Trump administration, including border czar Tom Homan, making their presence felt on the ground.
Attorney General Pam Bondi joined Homan and other officials in Minneapolis on Wednesday with a post of some of the latest anti-ICE scalps police have claimed, including some who have since been catapulted to internet infamy.
'We expect more arrests to come.'
"I am on the ground in Minneapolis today. Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement — people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents," Bondi wrote.
"We expect more arrests to come," she continued.
Bondi wrote that all of the anti-ICE protesters were arrested for allegedly "assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees" under 18 U.S. Code § 111.
Christina Rank, Abdikadir Noor, Madeline Tschida, Nitzana Flores, Helicity Borowska, Quentin Williams, William Vermie, Paul Johnson, Gillian Etherington, Joshua Doyle, Kirubele Adbebe, Margaret Sager, Ilan Wilson-Soler, Nasra Ahmed, Alice Valentine, and Matrim Charlebois were named in the post as those arrested recently.
Bondi included booking photos of those arrested in her post on social media.
Among those in the photos was Somali radical Nasra Ahmed, who last week went viral for her bizarre, jumbled speech about Somalian nationality and bananas and rice.
Ahmed is accused of spitting in the face of a federal officer, leading to her detention. During the press conference held after her release without charges, she was wearing a prominent bandage on the right side of her forehead. No sign of injury or bandages can be seen in the booking photo, however.
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'PLAYING WITH FIRE!' Trump responds to Minneapolis Mayor Frey's latest act of defiance
Earlier this week, President Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to speak personally with leaders in Minnesota. In the latest update to those exchanges, President Trump called out a top official at the center of the controversy for refusing to cooperate with the administration.
On Wednesday morning, Trump issued a stern warning to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) after Frey indicated on Tuesday afternoon he was not going to enforce federal immigration law.
'He is PLAYING WITH FIRE!'
Frey posted a short thread to X summarizing his position, stating that Minneapolis "will not enforce federal immigration law, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe."
Trump noted his surprise at Frey's apparent switchback following a "very good conversation with him": "Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!"
President Trump sent Homan to Minnesota on Monday to discuss a solution with Mayor Frey and other leaders in the state. As of Monday, Trump said on Truth Social that "lots of progress is being made!"
By Tuesday, Homan likewise believed that he had had a "productive" conversation with Frey and Gov. Tim Walz (D). He said that "we all agree that we need to support our law enforcement officers and get criminals off the streets."
In his message, posted hours before Homan's, Frey emphasized the safety of the community and the strain on local police officers, stating that his "main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible."
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Homan heads to Minnesota: ICE to continue making arrests amid 'violent organized protests,' $20B fraud, Trump says
As the situation in Minnesota continues to become more unruly, President Trump made several announcements in a Truth Social post in anticipation of the week ahead.
Trump suggested in part that border czar Tom Homan will be heading north to assess the rapidly evolving situation.
'A major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota.'
On Monday morning, Trump announced, "I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there."
"Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," Trump added.
RELATED: Democrats threaten to shut down government over ICE funding: 'We are not powerless'
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified Homan's role in Minnesota on social media shortly after the post from Trump: "Tom Homan will be managing ICE Operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. In addition, Tom will coordinate with those leading investigations into the massive, widespread fraud that has resulted in billions of taxpayer dollars being stolen from law-abiding citizens in Minnesota."
Trump added that "a major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota."
He suggested that the welfare fraud is "at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets."
Trump also attacked Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) in the post.
"Additionally, the DOJ and Congress are looking at 'Congresswoman' Illhan Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars. Time will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
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‘Grow a backbone’: Border czar Homan fires back at heckler who interrupted TPUSA event
Border czar Tom Homan fired back at a heckler during a Turning Point USA conference at the University of Texas at El Paso on Thursday.
During the event, Homan spoke and answered questions from the audience, which numbered roughly 500.
'I don't want anybody hurt. I don't want anybody to die — that includes officers and that includes aliens.'
He compared the border security under the Trump administration to that of the previous White House, describing the difference between them as "night and day."
"There was 12,000 a day sometimes crossing the border illegally," Homan said, referring to illegal crossings under the Biden administration. "You know what it was yesterday — 106 across 2,000 miles of border. And those 106, not a single one of those were released into the United States."
The audience erupted in applause.
Homan debunked the legacy media's narrative claiming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is disproportionately arresting non-criminals. He stated that the most recent stats indicated that 64% of immigration arrests were of criminals.
RELATED: 'He's not that smart': Homan lampoons Chicago mayor for pleading with UN to intervene against ICE
He slammed the media and immigration enforcement critics for labeling him the architect of "family separations."
"It wasn't done to punish. It was done in an attempt to save lives and stop sexual assaults, and maybe control the border," Homan said.
"You are a racist!" a heckler shouted. "You are destroying the Constitution!"
The audience responded with boos and drowned out the heckler's rant by chanting, "USA!"
Homan continued his speech unfazed by the disturbance, explaining that the Biden administration lost track of over 300,000 unaccompanied alien children and had not attempted to locate them. He reported that the Trump administration had already located 40,000 of those children.
RELATED: DHS to increase operations in Twin Cities region as Somali fraud becomes unignorable
"Every night [when] I go to bed, I pray for the safety and security of every Border Patrol agent, ICE agent, and I pray for everybody that we're looking for," Homan said. "I don't want anybody hurt. I don't want anybody to die — that includes officers and that includes aliens. ... Call me what you want."
"Traitor!" a heckler shouted back.
Homan replied by telling the heckler to "grow a backbone, put a Kevlar vest and a gun on your hip, and go secure this border!"
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DHS to increase operations in Twin Cities region as Somali fraud becomes unignorable
As deportation operations continue to clean up sanctuary cities across the country, the Department of Homeland Security is focusing on another hub of problematic immigration: the Minneapolis-St. Paul region of Minnesota.
The Washington Examiner reported that Tom Homan, the Trump administration's border czar, hinted at an immigration enforcement surge there as soon as this week.
'Focus is on those Twin Cities more because of the criminal activities there that've been uncovered by DOJ and DHS.'
In a Fox News appearance on Tuesday, Homan suggested that plans were already in the works to increase resources in the Twin Cities in particular.
“I can tell you, the focus is there. It's coming, but I don't want to give a lot. I can't tell you how many people are on the ground now, and how many people are going to be on the ground. I'll leave that to the secretary of homeland security, but focus is on those Twin Cities more because of the criminal activities there that've been uncovered by DOJ and DHS,” Homan said in the interview.
RELATED: It’s not ‘racist’ to notice Somali fraud
Citing an anonymous source familiar with the operations, the New York Times reported that the operation will target Somalis with final deportation orders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
Roughly 100 ICE agents have been called in for the operation, according to NYT.
This surge in law enforcement comes as the federal government expands its investigations into massive COVID-era fraud schemes. Over 75 indictments have already been issued, and Governor Tim Walz has been accused of obstruction in the case.
"Today, I have ordered an investigation into the network of Somali organizations and executives implicated in these schemes," Small Business Administration administrator Kelly Loeffler said on Tuesday in an X post. "Despite Governor Walz's best efforts to obstruct, SBA continues to work to expose abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, full stop."
In his now-infamous Thanksgiving Truth Social post, President Donald Trump highlighted the plethora of problems the state of Minnesota is facing in connection with the Somali community.
"Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota. Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for 'prey' as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone," he said.
Trump singled out Walz and Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar:
The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both, while the worst 'Congressman/woman' in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how "badly" she is treated.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated, "What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally."
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