The President-elect, Donald Trump, appointed a “border czar” who stated on Monday that he would imprison the mayor of Denver, Colorado if his city opposes Trump’s plans to deport millions of immigrants from the nation.
“The Denver mayor and I see eye to eye on one matter: he’s ready to face jail time, and I’m prepared to ensure he serves it,” said Tom Homan during his appearance on Fox News’ Hannity.
Homan was reacting to a discussion last week in which Mayor Mike Johnston told Denverite that he would call upon local law enforcement to obstruct federal agents dispatched by Trump to detain immigrants.
He also implied that the community would stand against such actions.
“Rather than having [the Denver Police Department] positioned at the county line to keep them at bay, you’d witness a gathering of 50,000 Denver residents,” Johnston commented.
“It’s reminiscent of the Tiananmen Square incident with the flower and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland mothers who rallied for the migrants. And you certainly do not wish to provoke them.”
Johnston mentioned that he would consider instituting city work permits if Trump proceeds with his promise to prevent immigrants from obtaining employment.
His statements quickly became a topic on conservative news channels and with MAGA supporters such as Elon Musk, who tweeted, “The mayor of Denver has contempt for his constituents.”
In a separate appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) accused the mayor of encouraging a “form of insurrection.”
Later, Johnston softened his position concerning local police obstructing federal agents, yet reaffirmed his commitment to large-scale protests against any deportation initiatives.
Homan, for his part, committed to having federal agents carry out deportations regardless of Johnston’s opinion.
“I’m uncertain about what’s happening in Denver, but we are going to resolve it,” he stated. “If he’s unwilling to address it, if he won’t safeguard his communities, then President Trump and ICE will.”
Homan is a no-nonsense former Border Patrol agent who acted as the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Trump from January 2017 until June 2018.
Though he was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate, his current position does not necessitate confirmation.
In Trump’s upcoming term, he will oversee the U.S. borders, both land and sea, and oversee the implementation of the President-elect’s commitment to the mass deportation of millions, utilizing federal or even military resources.
