Tom Homan, White House border czar, defended President Donald Trump’s “Chipocalypse Now” social media post from a day earlier, which said Chicago “will find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
“I think his words are being taken out of context. I said we’re going to war. We’re going to war the criminal cartels. We’re going to war with illegal aliens, public safety threats that rape children, that raped citizens, that committed armed robberies, that distribute narcotics that kill Americans,” Homan told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” today.
Democratic officials in Chicago and Illinois condemned the post Saturday, with Gov. JB Pritzker, calling it “not normal.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and US Rep. Mike Quigley, who represents part of the city, described the post as an example of authoritarianism.
CNN previously reported the Trump administration’s plans to conduct a major immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, and that officials there were bracing for it to begin as early as Friday.
Pressed on whether the administration will send the National Guard in to Chicago this week, Homan told CNN that the option is “always on the table.”
“We used them in Los Angeles, and we use them in Washington, DC. They’re a force multiplier,” he said.
Asked how many National Guard troops would be in Chicago, Homan declined to respond, saying that it was “law enforcement sensitive information.”
Asked if there will be any action in Chicago this week, Homan responded “absolutely,” adding, “you can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country.”
Hyundai immigration raid: He was also asked by CNN if there will be more extensive immigration raids, like the one at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia that led to 475 arrests.
“The short answer is, yes, we’re going to do more work site enforcement operations,” Homan said.