Border czar Tom Homan is not backing down in the face of criticism from local politicians in a major “sanctuary city,” warning illegal immigrants to be on alert in the coming days and weeks. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Homan responded to comments made by Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who had criticized his remarks at CPAC and questioned his ability to understand the complexities of policing a major city.
Homan fired back, stating that Durkan should prioritize the safety of U.S. citizen taxpayers over illegal aliens who commit heinous crimes. He emphasized that his focus is on enforcing the law and removing dangerous individuals from communities. Homan also took aim at Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, accusing him of prioritizing politics over public safety.
Durkan responded to Homan’s remarks by mocking his law enforcement background in a small town, suggesting that he lacks the experience to understand the challenges of policing a large city. However, Homan defended his record, highlighting ICE’s recent arrests of nine illegal aliens, including sexual predators, in Massachusetts. He emphasized the importance of removing such individuals from the streets to protect communities.
ICE’s enforcement efforts have intensified under the Trump administration, with a focus on public safety threats. Homan reiterated that no one in the U.S. illegally is off the table for enforcement actions. He urged critics of ICE to consider the impact of illegal immigrant crime on victims and their families.
Homan also addressed Durkan’s criticism of his background, stating that his small-town roots have shaped his commitment to serving communities. He emphasized that ICE enforces a wide range of laws beyond immigration, including drug smuggling and firearms trafficking.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Overall, Homan urged Durkan and other critics to recognize the importance of ICE’s work in maintaining public safety. He emphasized the agency’s role in protecting communities and upholding the rule of law. Homan’s dedication to law enforcement and commitment to keeping communities safe remain unwavering in the face of political attacks.
Andrea Margolis and Bill Melugin contributed to this report. Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security. He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
