Tom Homan, the incoming Border Czar under President Trump, has publicly criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul following the brutal murder of a woman on a New York City subway.
According to Resist Times, The suspect, an illegal immigrant, reportedly set the woman on fire and watched her burn to death. The tragic incident has sparked outrage and renewed criticism of sanctuary state policies, which Homan claims enabled the crime by allowing the perpetrator to remain in the country.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Homan delivered a scathing rebuke of Hochul and her approach to immigration enforcement.
He argued that sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, have directly contributed to an increase in crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. “Governor Hochul, shame on you. There’s nothing you can say that’s going to make this right in New York,” Homan stated.
🚨Tom Homan responds to illegal alien burning woman to death on NYC subway — RIPS Biden admin, Mayorkas and Hochul:
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) December 23, 2024
“This is another example of an illegal alien k*lling an American citizen."
"It's almost a daily occurrence now because of the historic number of criminal aliens… pic.twitter.com/RYXJjJyS4L
The incident occurred just hours before Hochul posted on X (formerly Twitter) touting improvements in subway safety. In the post, Hochul claimed crime rates on New York City subways had decreased following the deployment of 750 National Guard members earlier this year. The timing of her message, just eight hours after the murder, has been widely criticized as tone-deaf.
In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 22, 2024
Since deploying the @NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up. pic.twitter.com/T7uRxx9nIO
“Here’s another example of an illegal alien killing an American citizen. It’s almost a daily occurrence now, because a historic number of criminal aliens are walking the streets due to this administration’s policies in sanctuary jurisdictions and lax immigration enforcement,” Homan argued during his appearance.
Homan pointed out the systemic failures that he believes contributed to this tragedy, emphasizing that sanctuary policies prevent local law enforcement from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This lack of cooperation, he said, allows dangerous individuals to avoid deportation and remain free to commit crimes.
Homan framed the murder as part of a larger public safety crisis tied to weak immigration enforcement. He criticized the Biden administration’s approach to border security, calling it “irresponsible” and accusing it of prioritizing political agendas over public safety.
“This isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a public safety crisis,” Homan said, adding that such incidents are becoming alarmingly common. He called for immediate action to reverse sanctuary policies and strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide.
Hochul’s response to the criticism has been muted so far, but the incident has reignited public debate over the balance between immigration policies and public safety.
Critics of sanctuary states argue that such policies create safe havens for undocumented immigrants, including those with criminal histories, at the expense of citizens’ safety.
Homan, who will resume a prominent role in President-elect Trump’s administration starting in January, pledged significant changes to federal immigration enforcement. He emphasized that preventing such tragedies in the future would be a top priority.
“This administration will make public safety its cornerstone,” Homan declared, signaling a stark shift in immigration policy and enforcement in the coming months.