White House Border Czar Regrets Predicted “Bloodshed” After Surge in Attacks on Immigration Officers
By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 29 January 2026 01:18 PM EST
White House border czar Tom Homan warned this week that escalating tensions over federal immigration officers in U.S. cities could lead to “bloodshed,” a warning he now admits was too harsh.
“I said in March that if the rhetoric didn’t stop, there would be bloodshed, and there has been,” Homan told reporters at a Thursday morning press conference in Minnesota. “I wish I wasn’t right.”
His remarks follow outcry over the shooting death of Alex Pretti, 37, a nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital who was killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents during a confrontation, and the earlier this month fatality of Renee Good, 37, who was shot and killed in her vehicle by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
Homan said hostile rhetoric and threats directed at federal officers have fueled assaults and forced Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deploy additional security teams, diverting resources away from normal operations. He called on political leaders and activists to tone down what he described as “hostile rhetoric” and condemn unlawful acts against law enforcement.
“The hostile rhetoric and dangerous threats and hate must stop,” Homan said. “Everybody here today, we have to stop the hateful rhetoric that has caused an increase in assaults.”
Homan emphasized that ICE agents are enforcing laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents of both parties, stating those statutes have been in place across multiple administrations. “I started with President Ronald Reagan and ended with President Donald Trump. Every administration enforced the same laws,” he added.
He warned that while protests are protected under the First Amendment, threats, obstruction, and assaults will not be tolerated. “Threatening law enforcement officers, engaging in impeding and obstruction, and assault is never OK, and there will be zero tolerance.”
Homan said he met with Minnesota officials and local law enforcement leaders and urged them to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with federal officers in condemning unlawful acts. He also praised former President Trump’s border policy, stating a sharp drop in illegal crossings has reduced fentanyl deaths, human trafficking, and sexual assaults tied to cartel activity.
“A secure border saves lives,” Homan said. “Less women are being raped; less children are dying crossing that border; less fentanyl is getting into this country to kill Americans.”
Homan closed by thanking Minnesota officials for meaningful discussions while acknowledging disagreements remain. “We didn’t agree on everything, but we agreed on public safety. We can do better, and we’re going to continue this dialogue.”
