Former ICE Director Suggests 'Families Can Be Deported Together' As Solution To Mass Deportation

Thomas Homan, the former director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has suggested that families be repatriated together in order to avoid separating them during mass deportations.

Homan, who led ICE for part of former President Donald Trump's administration, discussed on Sunday the GOP candidate's plan to carry out mass deportations if elected.

During an interview, journalist Cecilia Vega asked, "Is there a way to carry out mass deportation without separating families?" to which he responded, "Of course there is. Families can be deported together," The Hill reported.

During the early period of the Trump administration's family separation policy, Homan led ICE from January 2017 to June 2018.

Under this policy, migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally were criminally charged or prosecuted, resulting in more than 5,000 children being separated from their families.

Last year, Homan defended this policy, saying he was frustrated by criticism over family separations. He argued that families "chose to separate themselves" by breaking the law and bringing a child into the country illegally.

The former ICE director said he didn't know if a family separation policy would be implemented in a possible 2024 Trump administration, but thought it should be considered.

Immigration is a major issue for Trump and the GOP this election, with Republicans strongly criticizing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of what they call a "border crisis."

Meanwhile, the number of migrants being apprehended by the U.S. authorities at the border was reportedly dropping, partly due to Mexico's efforts.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 54,000 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in September, which was down from 250,000 in December 2023.

Justin Gest, an immigration expert and professor at George Mason University said, "A border perceived to be out of control is fuel for Donald Trump," while Mexico's crackdown acts like "water over that fire" as far as the Biden administration was concerned.

A poll released last week also revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris was leading against Trump, as far as Hispanic voters in the battleground states were concerned.