President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s selection for border czar Tom Homan was recently praised for his decisive rebuke of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez in a recent congressional hearing. Homan is known for his unapologetic statement of facts regarding the laws in the United States relating to illegal immigration and his intent to enforce them.<\/p>\n
The argument before Congress pertained to AOC disagreeing with Homan allegedly supporting the separation of families at the southern border. \u201cBut it says here that you read, you gave her numerous options, but the recommendation was option three, family separation.\u201d However, Homan set the record straight, responding, \u201cI\u2019m saying this is not the only paper where we\u2019ve given the secretary numerous options to secure the border and save lives.\u201d AOC retorted, \u201cAnd so the recommendation of the many that you recommended, you recommended family separation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suggesting that the United States was violating human rights, AOC said, \u201cSo we as members of the United Nations signed on into an international human rights agreement, saying very clearly that family separation is a violation of international human rights, and we pursued a policy that violates human rights. You know, Mr. Chair, I was looking, how did we get to this point?\u201d<\/p>\n
Firing back, Homan defended his \u201czero-tolerance\u201d policy, telling AOC, \u201cI recommend a zero-tolerance \u2026 the same as is whatever US citizen, parent gets arrested when they\u2019re with a child.\u201d However, the \u201cSquad\u201d member didn\u2019t seem to acknowledge this argument from Homan that illegal immigrants were being treated equally to American citizens who broke the law. \u201cIf I get arrested for DUI and I have a young child in a car, I\u2019m gonna be separated. When I was a police officer in New York and I arrested a father for domestic violence, I separated that father from the family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
AOC replied, \u201cMr. Homan, with all due respect, legal asylees are not charged with any crime.\u201d Citing United States law, Homan confirmed that unlawfully crossing the border, whether seeking asylum or not, is still a crime if an asylum seeker doesn\u2019t go through a legal port of entry. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the country illegally, it\u2019s violation eight United States Code, 1325,\u201d Homan said, citing the specific law.<\/p>\n
The progressive congresswoman attempted to rebuke Homan by claiming, \u201cSeeking asylum is legal.\u201d Homan astutely pointed out, \u201cIf you want to seek asylum and go to the port of entry. Do it the legal way.\u201d At this point, Ocasio Cortez was beginning to appear visibly frustrated with Homan continually shutting down her argument with facts about U.S. law. \u201cThe Attorney General of the United States and made that clear,\u201d Homan added.<\/p>\n
The Tribune reported on other comments from Homan where he maintained that local leaders who were interfering with the incoming Trump administration\u2019s deportation efforts would face jail time. He said, \u201cYou\u2019re absolutely breaking the law. All he has to do is look at Arizona versus U.S. you\u2019ll see that he\u2019s breaking law. But look me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing, he\u2019s willing to go in jail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch a clip from the congressional hearing below:<\/p>\n