U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan announced Monday that the Trump administration is preparing to escalate immigration enforcement efforts in New York City, indicating a tougher federal presence in the sanctuary city.
“We’re going to be in New York City,” Homan told reporters at the White House, according to Bloomberg. “President Trump said it two weeks ago — we’re going to double down and triple down on sanctuary cities. Not because they’re blue states or blue cities, but because that’s where the problem is.”
The remarks come as New York braces for potential political shifts. Zohran Mamdani, the leading candidate in the city’s mayoral race and a self-described democratic socialist, has publicly vowed to limit federal immigration enforcement. Mamdani has advocated for denying ICE agents access to city-owned buildings and facilities, calling his agenda an effort to “Trump-proof” the city.
In response, Homan warned that should Mamdani become mayor and attempt to obstruct enforcement, “game on.”
Homan criticized local authorities for hindering ICE efforts, saying agents are already facing resistance in courthouses and jails. “If they don’t let us arrest the bad guy who comes to jail, we’re going to arrest him in the community,” he said, signaling a shift toward more public enforcement.
That shift could include increased “community operations” — immigration sweeps and public-area arrests similar to the June raids in Los Angeles, which sparked unrest and prompted National Guard deployment.
Homan argued that sanctuary policies put public safety at risk. “We know they’re releasing public safety threats and national security threats to the streets every day because they don’t honor our detainers,” he said.
He pointed to Florida as a model for cooperation. “We don’t have that problem in Florida, where every sheriff in the state is working with us,” Homan added.
The Trump administration has made sanctuary jurisdictions a central target of its immigration policy, frequently clashing with local officials over enforcement authority and public safety concerns. With tensions rising in New York, the city may soon become a focal point in the latest chapter of that national debate.Tools
