Tom Homan, the former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and recently appointed "Border Czar" by President-elect Donald Trump, has expressed concerns about the control Mexican cartels have over the southwest border. He made these remarks during an appearance on the Tucker Carlson Show podcast, as reported in a December 18 post on X.
"They [cartels] have operational control of our southwest border," said Homan, Border Czar and former director of ICE. "I've talked to Chief border patrol agents who agree with me that they have lost control of the southwest border."
According to Homan, cartels have significantly expanded their operations. "The Jalisco cartel is in over 45 countries in the world," he said. "They’re currently in every major city in the United States. Not only are they smuggling the drugs, they’re taking over the distribution within the United States." Homan compared the cartels to a "Fortune 500 company" and noted that they have diversified their funding and possess military-grade weapons.
In 2023, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green (R-TN) said that border patrol agents had reported "unprecedented control" by Mexican cartels at the border, according to a press release. The cartels reportedly overwhelm border agents with large groups of migrants and exploit weak points for smuggling.
NewsNation reported that by June 2024, cartels were offering VIP border crossings, charging up to $15,000 to smuggle migrants through tunnels into the U.S. La Linea cartel alone was said to be smuggling up to 1,000 immigrants monthly.
Cartels are also involved in drug smuggling, primarily fentanyl. "[Cartels] create gaps in the system," Homan said. "That’s when they move the fentanyl that’s killed a quarter-million Americans. That’s why sex trafficking is up 600%." He explained that between ports of entry, authorities might intercept only about 10% of smuggled fentanyl. Homan further elaborated on how criminal cartels exploit these vulnerabilities: "If I’m a criminal cartel, I’m going to use the route of least resistance."
Homan's comments underscore ongoing concerns about border security and highlight challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in addressing cartel activities.
