‘Flagrant and disgusting lie’: Tom Homan attacks NY officials over ICE stance

Tom Homan, a former border official under the Trump administration, launched a sharp attack on New York officials, calling their statements about federal immigration enforcement "flagrant and disgusting lies." He specifically targeted Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for what he described as misrepresentations regarding the federal government's actions on immigration. Homan questioned the necessity of New York's allocation of $7.25 million for legal aid to approximately 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant minors facing deportation proceedings. This funding, intended to cover services after a federal contract expired, includes support for over 250 detained children. Homan asserted that federal mechanisms already provide legal representation for these minors and that no child had appeared in immigration court without counsel under the existing federal framework. "I'm tired of it," Homan stated, arguing that the state's expenditure of taxpayer money to defend migrant children was unnecessary. Governor Hochul, however, defended the state's initiative, framing it as a necessary step to address the uncertainty created by the lapse in federal contracts. She emphasized the particular vulnerabilities of unaccompanied children and the critical role of legal assistance in their cases. "As the Trump administration washes its hands, New York steps up to help close the gap," Hochul said in a statement, asserting that failing to protect these children would mean losing sight of the nation's identity. The state also noted that additional resources are already allocated for immigrant services, with the Office for New Americans' budget reaching approximately $87 million.