Border Czar Tom Homan pushed back forcefully during a press briefing after a reporter challenged the Trump administration’s decision to invoke a centuries-old immigration law to target the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The confrontation unfolded as the reporter questioned the relevance of using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the mass deportation of suspected gang members. Homan immediately fired back, asking whether the reporter had actually read the law before criticizing its application. He firmly asserted that the statute remains active and fully enforceable under U.S. law.
Homan defended the administration’s approach, stressing that Tren de Aragua poses a serious threat to national security, with ties to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and widespread violence. He argued that the government has a duty to use every legal tool available to protect American communities from such criminal groups.
The heated exchange highlighted the growing political rift over the administration’s hardline immigration policies. Despite facing court challenges, Homan and other officials stood by the decision, insisting that invoking the historic law is both legal and necessary to stop transnational gangs threatening public safety.