Tom Homan immigration comments from a recent press conference have reignited debate over the Biden administration’s approach to immigration enforcement. The former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sharply criticized the decision to house undocumented immigrants in hotels rather than in ICE detention facilities. According to Homan, this move was not only fiscally irresponsible but also a strategic effort to delay deportations and shift the nation’s immigration framework for political gain.

“Why did they release people into the interior of the United States rather than put them into an ICE bed?” Homan asked. “Why not use an ICE bed at $127 a night instead of a hotel room at $500 a night?” He continued, “They did it on purpose because when you put them in an ICE detention bed, they get a hearing in 35 days. Court records show nine out of ten people who claim asylum get an order of removal. They’re gone. But if you release them and put them in a hotel room, their hearings can take five, seven, even nine years.”

These Tom Homan immigration comments reflect growing concern among immigration enforcement advocates who say the Biden administration’s policies are leading to widespread abuse of the asylum process and costly delays. Homan claimed that the prolonged court timelines are not incidental but calculated. “This is about selling this country out for future political power,” he said, asserting that by slowing down the deportation process, millions could remain in the country long enough to eventually benefit from amnesty should another Democratic administration come into power.

Homan also highlighted that existing federal law clearly states undocumented individuals must be detained upon entry. “The law clearly says if you arrive at our border without proper documentation, you ‘shall’ be detained,” he emphasized. “Not maybe. Not think about it. Shall.”

Critics of Homan’s remarks argue that using hotels was a response to overcrowding at detention centers, especially during the height of pandemic-related health concerns and massive surges in border crossings. DHS has said that alternatives to detention were necessary due to public health guidance and facility limitations. However, Homan and his supporters argue that this policy has created a financial and logistical burden and has undermined the rule of law.

The use of hotels came under scrutiny in 2021 after it was revealed that the Biden administration awarded a multi-million dollar contract to a non-profit organization to manage temporary hotel stays for migrant families. Reports at the time indicated per-night costs that far exceeded traditional detention expenses. The aim, according to DHS, was to provide a more humane and flexible response to family units and unaccompanied minors.

Still, the Tom Homan immigration comments underscore a central ideological divide: whether immigration enforcement should prioritize speed and removal, or humanitarian conditions and legal flexibility. Homan contends that ICE was operating within legal boundaries under the Trump administration and that the shift to hotel use represents not just a policy change, but a fundamental undermining of immigration law enforcement.

 

 

The full press briefing can be viewed below:

 

 

Floating Vimeo Video