Border czar Tom Homan expressed that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s accusation of him racially profiling individuals is “disgusting” and has requested an apology.
Earlier on Tuesday, Pritzker commented that Homan “long ago acknowledged he was racially profiling” and criticized his agency for “attacking our Latino communities” in light of ICE’s heightened presence in Chicago.
Homan told “The Hill” on Tuesday evening that he “will be waiting for his apologies,” denying he has ever said that.
The border czar said Pritzker “miscontrued” what he had previously stated.
Homan explained that an individual’s appearance is “one of the many factors you consider,” emphasizing that “you can’t arrest somebody just based on appearance.”
“Reasonable suspicion is based on a multitude of facts that the officer, through his observations, takes into consideration, for instance, appearance. If you encounter someone with MS-13 tattooed across their face, that is one factor out of many you have to consider, but not the only factor,” Homan stated.
“That is what I said, ICE officers do not racially profile. For him to say that is disgusting on every level, the ICE officers undergo Fourth Amendment training every six months, they’re well-trained.”
Addressing the protests against the agency’s increased presence, Homan remarked, “They can protest all they want, matter of fact, those streets are safer to protest in because of what ICE has done since President Trump reclaimed the White House.”
