Tom Homan is an American law-enforcement official and veteran of federal immigration enforcement who serves as the White House border czar in President Donald Trump’s second administration, since January 2025. He was acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from January 2017 to June 2018 and earlier led ICE deportation operations during the Obama administration.
Case
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says Rep. Ilhan Omar married her brother, and border czar Tom Homan cites an “ongoing criminal investigation.” Omar denies it. Snopes finds no credible evidence for the claim; Fox reports no public evidence of an investigation.
Role at the time: White House border czar, interviewed on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing
Statement summary
Asked on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing whether the federal government has evidence that Rep. Ilhan Omar committed immigration or naturalization fraud, White House border czar Tom Homan said he was “not going to comment on ongoing criminal investigation” and could not “give specifics,” but said that if someone committed an immigration violation or marriage fraud, “regardless if they’re a congressman or not, no one’s above the law,” and that Homeland Security Investigations would continue the investigation. Pressed on whether he was confirming an investigation into Omar, he answered, as Fox’s article prints it, “I’m confirming that ICE is, yeah — look, I said months ago that there’s something that’s been reported and needs to be looked at.”
“I’m not going to comment on ongoing criminal investigation. I know things are going on, but I can’t give specifics of what’s happening.” … “if someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they’re a congressman or not, no one’s above the law. So I’ll leave it at that. We’ll let HSI, Homeland Security Investigations, continue the investigation.”
The case’s fixed reference point is the Trump administration’s public accusation that Rep. Ilhan Omar married her brother to obtain immigration benefits, together with its announced federal criminal investigation of her. Homan neither states the allegation as fact nor gives specifics. He says that if someone committed an immigration violation or marriage fraud, “no one’s above the law,” that HSI will continue the investigation, and, pressed on whether he was confirming an investigation, gives an answer that Fox’s article prints as “I’m confirming that ICE is, yeah — look, I said months ago that there’s something that’s been reported and needs to be looked at.” That defends the investigation and its announcement. The closest competing label is explicitly_declines, because he says he will not comment on the investigation; it loses because he then endorses the inquiry and answers the follow-up question that asks him to confirm it.
Role at the time: White House border czar, speaking on stage with Benny Johnson at a Turning Point USA event at Baylor University
Statement summary
Asked on stage by Benny Johnson whether the Trump administration is “going to go there” on Rep. Ilhan Omar, White House border czar Tom Homan said “the whole file is being reviewed,” that “a lot of smart people are on it,” and “stay tuned.” Asked which crimes might be involved, he said he could not “get ahead of the investigation” but that “people are involved in the review” and that it is “in good hands.”
“The whole file is being reviewed. A lot of smart people are on it. Stay tuned.” … “I can’t get ahead of the investigation, but I know people are involved in the review, and they’re really smart people, and it’s in good hands.”
The case’s fixed reference point is the Trump administration’s public accusation that Rep. Ilhan Omar married her brother to obtain immigration benefits, together with its announced federal criminal investigation of her. Homan neither states the allegation as fact nor gives details, but, asked whether the administration is “going to go there” on Omar, he says “the whole file is being reviewed” and tells the audience to “stay tuned.” That defends the announced review. The closest competing label is explicitly_declines, because he says he cannot “get ahead of the investigation”; it loses because he first describes a review in progress and invites anticipation of its results.
Statement dates: April 22, 2026 to September 13, 2026
Statement dates: April 22, 2026 to September 13, 2026
Statement dates: April 22, 2026 to September 13, 2026
