ICE Director Tom Homan didn’t hold back Tuesday morning when MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski attempted to grill him on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention practices. The spirited exchange, which aired during the program’s 9 a.m. hour, served as yet another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over border enforcement and the consequences of unchecked illegal immigration.
Brzezinski, appearing smug and visibly frustrated, questioned the criteria ICE uses to define a “criminal” for deportation purposes, referencing—without naming—a high-profile case that recently stirred social media outrage.
“Mr. Homan, how would you define a criminal?” Brzezinski asked. “Is a person who is living in this country, paying taxes, has a license, has a job, and has kids serving in the U.S. military—but is still in the process of getting legal papers—is that person a criminal?”
While Brzezinski didn’t specify a name, many inferred she was referencing Narciso Barranco, a landscaper from Santa Ana, California, who was detained by ICE in June. Barranco is the father of three U.S. Marines and had been residing in the country illegally while reportedly attempting to regularize his immigration status.
Homan tried to explain ICE’s process but was interrupted.
“Well, every case is different—” he began.
“I’m asking about that case,” Brzezinski pressed. “Because there’s been that case.”
Homan replied, “From what you just told me, they’re not a public safety threat. However, if they’re in the country illegally, that is not OK.”
Brzezinski continued to challenge ICE’s enforcement actions, suggesting they were overly aggressive and even used terms like “disappeared” to describe detainees.
“So should that person be put in a car surrounded by ICE agents wearing masks and dragged into a car and detained?” she asked.
“I don’t know the specifics of that case,” Homan responded.
Brzezinski fired back, “That seems to be the answer for any case that has happened that you don’t want to talk about… Especially those who have kids who have served in the U.S. military. And no, they’re not a public safety hazard!”
In a heated tone, Homan shot back: “Are you going to let me answer your question?!”
He firmly reiterated ICE’s mission and the rule of law: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have to look at the facts of the case. However, I will say this—if they’re in the country illegally, that is not okay. People think illegal immigration is a victimless crime, and it’s not.”
Homan emphasized that legal immigration should be respected, stating: “There are millions of people standing in line, taking their tests, doing the background investigation, paying the fees to be part of the greatest nation on earth. And the people who are doing things the right way are sitting in the backseat, while millions have crossed the border and cheated the system under the Biden administration!”
The ICE chief defended his agency’s record under President Trump, stating that 70% of those detained had either a criminal history or posed public safety threats, and the remaining 30% were national security concerns.
Brzezinski demanded proof: “I would like to see that data that you’re talking about—the 70 percent, the criminal history. I’d love some transparency as to why a lot of these people have been disappeared!”
Homan didn’t hold back: “Here’s the rhetoric again, right? You just said ‘disappeared.’ That is a ridiculous thing to say!”
“Why?” Brzezinski challenged.
“Because ICE is doing the same thing we’ve done for decades,” Homan replied. “But because of the last four years, ICE wasn’t allowed to enforce the law. ICE was told to sit back. You can’t arrest an illegal alien for simply being here illegally. You’ve got to wait until they commit a serious crime and get convicted. That’s what Secretary Mayorkas’s instructions were. And that’s why you saw so much crime coming from the illegal alien population—because there’s no law enforcement!”
Tom Homan just handed Mika her ass on a platter 🤣 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qeZa0C4KBs
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) September 9, 2025
Homan ended the interview by dunking her head in water and mopping the floor with her. Ok, not really, but I bet you saw that word picture vividly. You’re welcome. Listen here:
