Tom Homan, the former head of border control under President Donald Trump, declared on Tuesday that the temporary halt on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle inspections will not impede the administration’s aggressive deportation policy.
"I'm fed up with claims that the administration has lost its nerve on mass deportations," Homan expressed to reporters at the White House, as reported by The Daily Signal.
He emphasized that the pause is purely for agent safety and does not signify a shift in the immigration strategy.
"This isn't a policy change; it's just a short-term pause to ensure we're doing things right," he later explained in an interview with Fox News.
The Strategy Behind ICE Operations
Homan elaborated that ICE agents have various methods to carry out arrests without relying on traffic stop detentions.
"There are options. You wait until they reach their destination and then make the arrest. It's not a cornerstone of what we do," he noted.
Trump's Immigration Policy Yields Record Results
Proudly defending the effectiveness of Trump's immigration policy, Homan claimed that June 2026 saw more arrests of foreign nationals than any other month in ICE history, even surpassing joint operations with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Border Patrol.
"Once we secured funding, the numbers skyrocketed, just as President Trump promised the American people," he asserted.
He attributed the temporary drop in deportations between mid-February and late April to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, which he said lasted around 75 days, the longest in the agency's history.
Pause Follows Two Shooting Incidents
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin ordered the suspension of vehicle inspections after two ICE operations resulted in the deaths of immigrants within a week.
The first incident occurred on July 7 in Houston, Texas, where an agent fatally shot Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, during a traffic stop.
The second happened in Biddeford, Maine, when agents shot and killed Colombian Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26, who had a valid work permit and was not the operation's target, as later confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security.
According to ABC News, Mullin temporarily halted these interventions after discussions with Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine.
Heightened Threats to ICE Agents
Homan justified the review of protocols, highlighting a 3,400% increase in vehicle attacks against ICE agents, prompting enhanced protective measures.
"I believe they're taking a moment to ensure ICE agents have everything they need to stay safe," he stated.
Regarding criticisms about the lack of body cameras in recent operations, Homan explained that their deployment was delayed due to the government shutdown. He assured that DHS acquired the equipment thanks to a $20 million allocation approved in April and that a distribution schedule is in place.
When asked about the duration of the vehicle inspection suspension, Homan anticipated a brief pause.
"I would think we'll be back up and running in a couple of weeks," he concluded.
Key Questions About ICE's Operational Pause
Why were ICE vehicle inspections paused?
The pause was implemented for the safety of ICE agents following two incidents where immigrants were fatally shot during operations.
Does the pause indicate a change in deportation policy?
No, the pause is temporary and intended to ensure agent safety, not a shift in the deportation strategy.
How long is the suspension of vehicle inspections expected to last?
Tom Homan expects the suspension to be brief, possibly lasting only a couple of weeks.