Florida’s top immigration official, Tom Homan, pushed back on statements made by Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents racially profile illegal immigrants. During an appearance on the “Saturday in America” program, Homan described the accusation as “ridiculous” and reiterated that ICE arrests are driven solely by a person’s immigration status.
Homan’s response
“We don’t arrest people based on the color of their skin. I’m actually an equal opportunity deporter,” Homan said. He noted that last year the agency deported individuals to 180 countries and added, “If you’re in the country illegally, you will be deported, regardless of the color of your skin.” Homan emphasized that ICE agents must have reasonable suspicion and probable cause before making an arrest, as required by law.
Nixon’s allegations
Angie Nixon, who recently secured the Democratic primary win in Florida, listed ending detention centers and abolishing ICE among her campaign priorities. On the “QNA: Questions Need Answers” podcast, she claimed that ICE functions as a “weaponized paramilitary force” that terrorizes Black communities, describing the agency’s actions as “state‑sanctioned violence.” Nixon also suggested that Republicans are “literally trying to kill us” by supporting ICE.
Department of Homeland Security response
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rejected Nixon’s claims, labeling them “disgusting, reckless and categorically FALSE.” DHS officials reiterated that immigration status, not race or ethnicity, determines who is targeted for enforcement.
Sanctuary policy debate
Homan also linked the controversy to sanctuary policies, arguing that such policies endanger both law‑enforcement officers and the public. He cited the July shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, where agents attempted to arrest the individual, as an example of the risks posed when illegal immigrants remain in local jails rather than being transferred to ICE custody.
“What sanctuary cities do is not only give sanctuaries to criminals, it makes the community less safe because they’re releasing public safety threats back into the public,” Homan said. He warned that street arrests increase danger for both officers and the individuals being detained.
Political context
Nixon’s platform calls for the dismantling of ICE and an end to mass detention, framing the agency’s actions as moral failures. Homan’s rebuttal underscores the federal government’s stance that ICE operates within the bounds of the law and that any profiling allegations are unfounded.
The exchange highlights the broader partisan divide in Florida over immigration policy, with state‑wide implications for how federal enforcement interacts with local jurisdictions.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
