The message from Border Czar Tom Homan during his Turning Point USA address at UTEP was simple: a secure United States-Mexico border saves lives in both countries.
Homan’s controversial visit to the University of Texas at El Paso Thursday, Dec. 4, came by way of an invitation from its Turning Point USA chapter.
Over 500 spectators in two lecture halls on campus heard the President Donald Trump appointee recall some of the worst cases of human trafficking, cartel violence and fentanyl criminal cases as context for why a hardline on immigration is necessary.
“I spent most of my career working trafficking and human smuggling cases,” Homan said. “During that time, I was called to a tractor trailer with a 5-year-old child (who) had died along with many others being trafficked. In decades of investigations I’ve done, I’ve seen those who have suffered terrible deaths.”
Homan took aim at the administration of President Joe Biden, contending that a nation that sends the message that entering illegally will not be punished breeds growing criminal activity.
The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who served in both Trump and Obama administrations, also underscored cartel violence when immigrants fail to pay the fee to get smuggled into the United States.
When border security is bolstered, Homan noted, cartel violence against potential immigrants declines.
“If you want to enter the greatest country on Earth, come in through a port of entry,” Homan said. “I know it’s a slow process, which is why Congress needs to step up. When you come into the country illegally, you’re cheating and cutting in line in front of all those trying to do it legally.”
There were legal means of seeking asylum in the U.S., but they were shut down following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
The Biden administration launched the CBP One application. It prohibited applications between ports of entry during the massive wave of migrants arriving at the border in 2023 to create an orderly process for asylum requests. The administration also launched migrant transit centers in Guatemala and Colombia, where potential migrants could apply for work visas, family reunification or asylum.
The Trump administration shut down the CBP One app on Jan. 20 and essentially ended seeking asylum at the border. While U.S. immigration law permits migrants to plead their cases for asylum, the Supreme Court is considering whether the Trump administration can block some people from requesting asylum at ports of entry.
At Trump’s request, a bipartisan immigration and border security bill was blocked by GOP senators in 2024. It was crafted by James Lankford, R-Oklahoma.
Homan: ‘I don’t want anyone to be hurt’
In an uncharacteristically candid moment, Homan noted he has seen many difficult scenes of violence and loss of life. Those moments only served to strengthen his resolve to fight illegal immigration, so individuals do not put themselves in such danger.
“I don’t want anyone to be hurt or to die,” Homan said. “I’ve shed many tears in my time in (law enforcement). Immigration enforcement has always been controversial and has always been emotional. That doesn’t mean you don’t do it and we need to know who’s coming.”
Migration has become more dangerous in the last decade, with migrants paying higher costs to human smugglers who take them on more risky routes as a result of the militarization of the border. The El Paso sector, which includes El Paso and Hudspeth counties and extends to the New Mexico border with Arizona, became one of the most dangerous stretches of desert for migrants, with 176 deaths being reported in the region in fiscal year 2024.
In even more personal admissions, he noted numerous death threats against him prompted additional measures to protect his wife.
When confronted with the overly aggressive actions of some ICE agents across the country, Homan explained that agents are also parents simply protecting their country and that it is difficult to know why force had to be used without a proper investigation.
Audience questions asked about concerns on the constitutionality of moves by the Trump administration in claims of the denial of due process, whether the border Czar can actually hold ICE agents accountable for questionable actions and profiling in Hispanic communities.
“The Supreme Court has ruled you can detain and question somebody on reasonable suspicion,” Homan said. “If an ICE agent acts outside of policy, we’ll hold them accountable. If U.S. citizens were detained, it’s because there was some reasonable suspicion. We have to remember that U.S. citizens are detained by law enforcement in this country every day.”
He offered serving an arrest warrant at a private residence as an example where everyone on the scene is detained, rather than only the individual who is the subject of the warrant.
But U.S. law prohibits immigration agents from detaining citizens. A ProPublica investigation found that over 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE during immigration raids or at protests.
El Pasoans sound off on Homan speech
Amin Favela, an El Paso resident, was not surprised by the strong praise for President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“Nothing really surprised me today,” Favela said. “It was about law and order mainly. It’s good that UTEP can bring people with different views from different backgrounds. It’s freedom of speech because this is America.”
George Mead, an East El Paso resident, echoed the sentiment that Homan stayed on message during his speech.
“This was basically the same in other speeches I’ve seen from him. In speaking with others in El Paso, I can see there’s support for what Tom Homan and President Trump are doing. I agree with it since I’m an immigrant that came here legally,” Mead said.
As one of the estimated 100 students of the UTEP Turning Point USA Chapter, junior Bella Acuña noted El Paso can be overlooked and Homan’s visit could begin to reverse that.
“UTEP tends to get underrepresented and it’s great we can be put on the map, when we can welcome someone from the White House,” Acuña said. “I was surprised that the turnout included a large number of conservative voters given El Paso is considered largely Democrat.”
UTEP students lead protests against Homan
UTEP student groups led a protest down the street from the Undergraduate Learning Center, where Homan spoke. Around 100 people, including students, community activists of all ages and concerned residents, joined the protest.
The protest began ahead of Homan’s speech, as helicopters and at least one drone flew overhead. There was a heavy presence of Texas Department of Public Safety agents and police monitoring the protest. Protesters spoke out through a megaphone, condemning the border czar’s visit and lamenting that the university had allowed him to speak.
“It is upsetting, especially given what is happening in this country,” said Jesse Moreno, vice-president of UTEP College Democrats.
Protesters condemned the immigration raids that have occurred under the Trump administration and many raised concerns about the allegations that Homan had received a $50,000 bribe.
In September 2024, Homan was reportedly recorded accepting a bag containing $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents posing as business executives. The FBI was investigating allegations that Homan was accepting bribes from border security companies in exchange for the promise of government contracts if Trump won the 2024 election.
In September 2025, the Department of Justice closed the investigation, citing insufficient evidence. Homan has repeatedly denied the accusations.
While there were moments of tension between protesters and attendees of Homan’s speech, the protests were largely peaceful.
At least one protester was briefly detained by UTEP campus police before being released after being identified.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at [email protected].
