President Trump’s pick for “Border Czar”, former acting ICE Director Tom Homan has made headlines with his fiery remarks on Fox News about the dangers of sanctuary cities and the tragic death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Homan, nominated by President Trump for a key role in his administration, didn’t hold back. Speaking directly to the policies of sanctuary cities, he called them a “tragedy waiting to happen.”
“This administration has blood on its hands,” Homan stated bluntly, referring to the Biden administration’s immigration policies. He spoke emotionally about Riley’s case, a story that has gripped the nation. “Just listen to how that young lady died. She fought for her life for 17 agonizing minutes—fighting to survive, fighting for breath. And why? Because this administration refuses to secure our borders.”
Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, was killed in February while jogging on campus. Her alleged attacker, Jose Ibarra, is an illegal immigrant. According to prosecutors, Ibarra has a record of peeping and other offenses, yet remained in the U.S. despite multiple opportunities for deportation. This week, Ibarra stood trial, with evidence including a chilling 911 call where Riley’s final moments were captured.
Homan used this case to highlight the failures of sanctuary cities. He pointed out that many crimes committed by illegal immigrants go unreported because local jurisdictions don’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. “Sanctuary cities don’t always capture the foreign national citizenship of these criminals. Sometimes it’s not in their reports, and they never contact ICE. There are many stories like Laken’s, and even more we don’t hear about.”
The audio recording from Riley’s emergency call left the courtroom in silence. Prosecutors revealed that Riley struggled with her attacker for nearly 18 minutes. The recording played in court was heartbreaking—rustling noises, muffled cries, and an operator repeatedly asking if anyone could hear her. Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, wept openly as the prosecution detailed the attack.
Homan argued that such tragedies are avoidable. “President Trump is going to put a stop to this,” he said, praising Trump’s commitment to tougher immigration policies. “This Administration needs to wake up. Sanctuary cities are shielding violent criminals. And we’re seeing the consequences—innocent Americans are dying.”
Meanwhile, outrage is growing in cities like Chicago, where residents are protesting the violence associated with illegal immigrants. Demonstrators are calling for action, blaming local and federal policies for the uptick in crime. “We need leadership that protects us, not policies that endanger us,” one protester said.
President Trump, in his remarks about Riley’s case, echoed Homan’s sentiments. “This never should have happened,” Trump said. “Her blood is on Kamala Harris’ hands. She let in the savage monster who killed her. We will stop this madness.”
The nation continues to mourn Riley’s death as her case highlights the ongoing debate about sanctuary cities and immigration enforcement. Homan’s fiery words reflect a growing sentiment among Americans who feel these policies are failing to protect them. “It’s disgusting, and it’s preventable,” Homan concluded. “We need to take action, and we will.”
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