Trump's border czar plans to detain migrant families again

In December 2024, Tom Homan, appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee immigration and border security, announced plans to revive family detentions as part of the administration's broader immigration enforcement strategy. The emphasis on detaining immigrant families, including those with U.S.-born children, marks a significant shift from the policies implemented during the Biden administration, which ended family detention in 2021. Homan's comments suggest that the administration seeks to expedite deportation processes by constructing new detention facilities for families as part of its commitment to carry out mass deportations. This approach aligns with Trump's campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and remove individuals who have entered the country without authorization. Homan's remarks have drawn criticism from civil rights advocates, who fear a repetition of past policies that led to the separation of families and psychological trauma for children involved. The American Civil Liberties Union is preparing to challenge any unconstitutional aspects of this renewed enforcement policy, echoing the organization’s previous legal actions against the Trump administration during its first term. Although Homan emphasized that the administration does not intend to separate families, he acknowledged that deportation choices would ultimately rest with the parents. Legal frameworks such as the Flores Settlement Agreement, which limits the detention of children, could complicate implementation plans and lead to additional litigation. Overall, Homan outlines a clear intention to utilize family detention centers strategically to enforce immigration laws aggressively.