Tom Homan Defends Child Deportations Amid Controversy

Trump administration border czar Tom Homan repeatedly defended the removal of American citizen children alongside their undocumented mothers, asserting that these children were not 'deported' by the government but left at their parents' request. Homan emphasized that parental choice, not government action, determined whether citizen children accompanied deported parents, stating, 'This is parenting 101.' However, federal Judge Terry Doughty and others have questioned whether there was adequate process or meaningful consent, especially in cases involving vulnerable children, such as a four-year-old with cancer. Homan insisted that having a U.S. citizen child does not exempt undocumented parents from deportation, arguing, 'Having a US citizen child after you enter this country illegally is not a get out of jail free card.' He maintained that the administration follows due process but placed responsibility on the parents for their children’s departure. The controversy comes amid heightened enforcement actions and legal challenges over the treatment of mixed-status families.