Border czar Tom Homan speaks at Turning Point USA conference at UTEP

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, held a conference at the University of Texas at El Paso on Thursday.

Homan spoke and took questions at the Undergraduate Learning Center, room 106.

The event is hosted by Turning Point USA.

Turning Point USA provided the following statement:

We the students, in representation of the UTEP chapter of Turning Point USA, hope to bring back the concept of open dialogue and respect between parties of differing opinions. We hope that, in Tom Homan’s presence, we can pay homage to the hardworking individuals who sought out greatness for themselves and their families, and have participated in the legal immigration process, bringing great honor to their legacies to come. Mr. Homan expressed interest in visiting El Paso, as the city is notably known for its border location. As a city that has built its foundation upon that of immigrant families, Mr. Homan stresses the importance of legal procedure and how a lack thereof can greatly damage a city’s economic, social, and infrastructural statuses. As students who have maintained a non-inflammatory approach, we are disappointed to see that the city has chosen to base their opinions off of stereotypes and assumptions, rather than to see our humanity as so many folks ask conservatives to do for them. We will continue with our mission, aiming to challenge students to think for themselves, research, dig deep, and thrive in community that reflects what El Paso so deeply cherishes: faith, family, and freedom.

In a statement emailed to KFOX14/CBS4, UTEP said, “There are over 360 registered student organizations at UTEP. Registered student organizations are able to host speakers and other events on campus. The student chapter of Turning Point USA at UTEP will be hosting an event on campus in accordance with UTEP policies and procedures.”

Activist groups mounted a protest on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the Border Czar’s visit to El Paso.

The Border Network for Human Rights, Juventud con Dignidad, Indivisible the 915, Movimiento ChucanX, and Las Americas gathered at the University of Texas at El Paso and shared their message opposing border militarization.

“Because the very thing that’s been happening on the border, like separation of families, so many deaths under border patrol and everything, I feel like that’s really hurtful to the community,” Roxana Martinez said. “I think that’s a threat to the community, especially UTEP students.

El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar reacted to the announcement, releasing a statement calling out the university for hosting Homan.

UTEP’s embrace of right-wing politics in the last few years has been alarming and is unreflective of El Paso. As a loving, welcoming community, the invitation of Tom Homan is contrary to the values most El Pasoans hold dear.Homan has been one of the chief architects of the Trump administration’s cruel, hardline mass deportation tactics. Despite promises to go after the ‘worst of the worst,’ their efforts have done little but terrorize families, including mixed-status families, households with immigrants who have been in the country for decades, parents of U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens themselves. And all of it has come with a significant emotional and financial cost to Americans.While I believe in productive debate and genuine conversation, I’m disappointed and ashamed that the leadership at UTEP is amplifying someone who is actively engaged in demonizing many of those who attend UTEP like DREAMERs, individuals in mixed-status families and first generation Americans, all of whom have long considered UTEP to be a safe place. Attendees should expect a white-washed, ugly rewriting of recent history.

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