General Discussion

LetMyPeopleVote

(155,578 posts) Mon Dec 16, 2024, 05:37 PM Dec 16

The problem(s) with Trump's 'border czar' threatening prosecutions

Tom Homan might like the idea of arresting state and local officials who disagree with him, but the incoming “border czar” won't have that authority.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/problems-trumps-border-czar-threatening-prosecutions-rcna184400

That’s not, however, the only thing on Homan’s mind. The Washington Post reported:

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, suggested that mayors who don’t help the administration deport undocumented immigrants in their cities could face criminal charges. Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Friday on Fox News that existing laws could be wielded against city officials if cities don’t commit to aiding federal officials in their efforts to mass deport millions of people. He specifically referred to the federal criminal charge of impeding a federal officer.

Asked whether the incoming administration is prepared to bring charges against local officials, Homan replied, “If they step over that line.” He added, “[T]here are laws on the books that we will prosecute.”

As part of the on-air interview, Homan specifically pointed to the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson......

There’s no shortage of problems associated with such rhetoric, but I’m reminded of something Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said last week. “Being a ‘border czar’ is not an official position in the government,” the Democrat said.

It’s an underappreciated detail. I realize that Homan has an ambitious to-do list, but when he makes comments such as, “I will prosecute him,” it’s worth noting that he’ll have about as much prosecutorial authority in the next administration as I do — which is to say, none.

Homan might like the idea of arresting state and local officials who disagree with him, but officials might be more intimidated if the incoming “border czar” had some authority as a law enforcement official. He will not.