White House border czar Tom Homan said federal immigration agents may occasionally detain American citizens for short periods during enforcement operations if officers suspect they are connected to immigration violations, while emphasizing that citizens are not deported once their identities are verified.

Speaking outside the White House about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, Homan defended ICE procedures and said temporary detentions can happen during fast-moving investigations.

“We deport people that are going to be deportable,” Homan said, according to The Hill. “We arrest people that will be deportable based on suspicion.”

Homan acknowledged that some American citizens may briefly end up in custody while officers attempt to determine who they are during field operations.

“Have U.S. citizens ever been shortly detained based on suspicion? I’m sure. I’m sure,” he said.

The remarks come as immigrant advocacy organizations and civil liberties groups continue raising concerns about ICE tactics, especially during major raids and enforcement sweeps targeting undocumented immigrants and individuals facing deportation orders.

Earlier this year, Rep. Pramila Jayapal accused the Department of Homeland Security of infringing on the rights of American citizens through detention practices.

“DHS is supposed to be protecting our residents and upholding constitutional protections, but you’ve turned that on the head,” Jayapal told then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a March 4 hearing. “You have actually turned the United States government against its own residents.”

Homan insisted that ICE officers release people once authorities determine they are not subject to immigration enforcement.

“If ICE officers determine that someone is not the guy we’re looking for, you are released,” Homan said. “But we don’t deport U.S. citizens.”

Homan has emerged as one of the most visible defenders of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and has repeatedly advocated for tougher border enforcement and expanded interior immigration operations.

The Trump administration has pledged to sharply increase deportation efforts and boost arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country, arguing that stricter enforcement is necessary for public safety and border security.

Immigrant-rights organizations, however, have warned that broader enforcement actions increase the risk of mistaken detentions and racial profiling.

Federal immigration law generally requires officers to establish probable cause before making immigration-related arrests, although agents are permitted to briefly detain individuals for questioning while confirming identity and immigration status during enforcement operations.

{Matzav.com}