Amid reports of tensions within the Department of Homeland Security, Border Czar Tom Homan has acknowledged disagreements with Homeland Security Secretary
Kristi Noem, but insisted the administration remains united in its immigration crackdown.
In back-to-back television interviews, Homan declined to either criticise or explicitly defend Noem, even as questions mounted over internal tensions within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaking on State of the Union with Jake Tapper, Homan brushed aside a claim by a Minnesota official that Noem and former Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino were “insane” and more focused on optics than coordination with local authorities.
Rather than addressing the remark directly, Homan pivoted to his own approach. “You can’t fix problems talking in an echo chamber. You got to talk to the people that you may disagree with,” he said, adding that Minnesota and Minneapolis were “safer” due to improved coordination with local jails.
He also admitted he does not agree with Noem on everything. “Do me and Secretary Noem agree on everything? No,” Homan said, while rejecting suggestions that DHS faces a credibility problem. “It’s one team, one fight.”
In a separate interview with Ed O'Keefe on CBS News, Homan was pressed on a recent Wall Street Journal report detailing alleged leadership concerns involving Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski.
The report claimed Homan rarely speaks with Noem or Lewandowski and has complained about them to the White House.
Homan declined to validate those claims. “Look, it’s one team, one fight. I’m not playing in that media. They’re trying to divide this administration,” he said.
He acknowledged policy differences but characterised them as routine professional debates rather than deep divisions. “I want to do it this way. Someone wants to do it this way. Then we talk about what works best in this situation. We all come to agreement in the end,” he said.
Homan emphasised what he described as record enforcement outcomes, claiming the US has “the most secure border in history” and record numbers of criminal undocumented immigrants arrested and deported.
Power struggle over deportation strategy
Behind the scenes, however, officials say Homan and Noem have differed over how aggressively to execute President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda.
Homan has reportedly pushed to prioritise individuals with criminal records, while Noem has advocated broader enforcement sweeps targeting all illegal immigrants.
The tensions surfaced during “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, where thousands of federal personnel were deployed following a major fraud scandal and subsequent shootings involving federal officers. Homan recently announced the end of the operation.
Notably, he has refrained from publicly defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol officers involved in the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, saying he would “let the investigations play out.” Noem, by contrast, has publicly defended the officers.
Homan also distanced himself from Noem’s recent comments suggesting DHS would ensure “we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders.” Asked about the remark, he responded, “That’d be a question for the secretary.”
‘Results speak for themselves’
Despite the apparent differences in tone and approach, Homan repeatedly returned to the theme of unity and outcomes.
“We have different opinions. Well, those different opinions are worked out, and we move forward,” he said. “The results speak for themselves.”
Whether the public message of unity masks deeper strategic divides remains unclear. But for now, Homan’s line is firm: disagreements may exist — but the administration, he insists, is moving in one direction.
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