NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Tom Homan Defends Masked ICE Agents Amid Sharp Rise in Attacks, Questions Recent Senate Bill
During his appearance on The Conversation with Dasha Burns last Sunday, Border Czar Tom Homan strongly defended the decision to allow ICE agents to wear face coverings during enforcement operations. He cited a staggering 700% increase in attacks, doxing, and violent threats targeting immigration officials.
The criticism comes on the heels of a bill introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) on July 8. Their proposed legislation seeks to ban DHS agents, including those from ICE, from wearing masks during enforcement—arguing such coverings erode transparency and accountability.
Homan, however, pushed back decisively. “We never had the scale of attacks … up 700% attacks on ICE, doxing against ICE agents,” he told Burns. “They’re wearing masks to help give them some sort of protection.”
When Burns challenged the move by comparing it with police handling of protests, Homan remained firm: “Name a police agency that has a 700% increase in assaults. You can’t.” His point underscored the unique vulnerability faced by ICE officers in recent years.
For Homan, it’s about safety. He recalled the firsthand dangers his fellow officers endure: “These men and women of ICE … they don’t hang their hearts on a hook every day when they come to work. They’re being vilified for it and attacked—zero tolerance on this.”
Contextual Surge in Violence
Homan’s remarks aren’t speculation. The DHS released a memo in June documenting a spike in threats and online exposure aimed at officers. Notably, early July saw multiple serious incidents:
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A July 4 armed assault on an ICE facility in Texas, injuring a police officer.
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A July 7 shooting at a Border Patrol station, where agents killed the assailant in self-defense.
These events set the backdrop against which Homan framed his argument for face masks as a “necessary protection measure” during dangerous facing missions.
Political Pushback and Mask Debate
The bill from Booker and Padilla asserts that agents wearing masks create opaque enforcement operations and risk hiding misconduct. Critics of the legislation warn it jeopardizes officer safety at a time when threats against federal personnel have mounted.
Supporters of the mask ban argue for public transparency and trust, questioning whether ICE agents face the same level of risk as frontline police. Homan countered those claims, pointing out that while violent protests—you can name hundreds—ICE is seeing uniquely dangerous threats. He also raised questions about why protesters, including those in BLM protests, faced no similar mask restrictions.
Where Things Stand
The bill currently remains under review in the Senate Judiciary Committee. With federal agencies opposed and law enforcement groups lobbying for protection, the vote may come down to whose concerns—transparency or officer safety—carry more weight in Congress.
Meanwhile, Homan is continuing the conversation across media platforms, reinforcing his stance: face masks by ICE agents are a justified measure in response to unprecedented violence and doxing.
