According to a Wall Street Journal report, ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan plans to announce his retirement from the agency on Monday. He will reportedly leave the position in June.
Homan was Trump’s pick for the job but had yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
Homan has been responsible for violently anti-immigrant actions and policies that ICE has carried out during his time as acting director. In 2017, immigration arrests rose by a dramatic 40%, and non-criminal immigration arrests rose by an astonishing 171%.
Not only that, ICE amped up its efforts in conducting raids on businesses as a way to punish employers. In January, ICE agents raided 98 7-Eleven locations in 17 states.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
“Today’s actions send a strong message to U.S. businesses that hire and employ an illegal work force: ICE will enforce the law, and if you are found to be breaking the law, you will be held accountable,†Homan said about the raids.
Even more sickening are the alarming deaths of immigrants in detention centers during Homan’s time as the top immigration official in the U.S. In 2017, 12 immigrants died in these centers, the highest number of fatalities since 2009.
Homan has also targeted the Dreamers and sanctuary cities; turned a blind eye to human rights violations at immigrant detention centers; doubled profits for private prisons effectively running as detention centers for immigrants; separated families seeking asylum, and much more.
Homan’s departure is undoubtedly good news for immigrants. And yet, considering that he was likely nominated by Trump precisely because he was so anti-immigrant, there’s a good chance the next person to fill the post will be much better.
