The incoming Trump administration’s designated border czar Tom Homan is very serious about securing the U.S. Southern border — and just called the bluff of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and “Resistance” Democrats that have vowed to defy deportations.
In no uncertain terms, Homan threatened to put Johnston and anyone defying federal law into prison.
“You are absolutely breaking the law,” Homan told Fox News’ Sean Hannity, citing Arizona v. U.S. as precedent. “Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: He’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail.”
Homan, who previously served as ICE acting director during Trump’s first term, cited federal statutes in his warning.
“It’s a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities,” he warned. “It’s also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer.”
Johnston, a Democrat, responded defiantly in a statement to Fox News.
“In Denver we respect the law and enforce it without fear or favor across every inch of our city. If Donald Trump tries to break the law and abuse his power, he will get no help from us,” he said. “Denver is proud to be a welcoming city, and we will do everything in our power to protect those who live here.”
But the mayor indicated some willingness to compromise, saying he would support limited deportations of those convicted of “serious crimes” and would be a “ready partner” if efforts focused solely on violent criminals.
“I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems,” Johnston waffled to local media.
Homan dismissed reaching a compromise, and insisted he will enforce the law regarding the border and illegal immigration.
“President Trump has been clear, we want to concentrate on public safety threats and national security threats. I find it hard to believe that any governor would say they don’t want public safety threats removed from their neighborhoods.”
The confrontation comes after Trump’s campaign focus on Denver’s suburb of Aurora, which he characterized as “a war zone” being controlled by illegal Venezuelan gangs.
“If you don’t want to fix it, if you don’t want to protect his communities, President Trump and ICE will,” Homan declared.