Border Czar Homan Trolls Newark Mayor Arrested By ICE: ‘He’s Not Very Smart’
In a sharp rebuke of what he called a dangerous publicity stunt, former acting ICE Director Tom Homan took aim at Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after the Democrat politician was arrested during an anti-ICE protest in New Jersey. Homan didn’t hold back, slamming Baraka’s actions and questioning his intelligence, stating flatly: “He’s not very smart.”
Baraka was arrested while leading a protest outside a Newark Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, where demonstrators reportedly attempted to storm the facility to demand the release of detainees. ICE agents, following standard procedure, took Baraka into custody briefly before releasing him. While some mainstream outlets have portrayed the arrest as a moment of civil disobedience, critics argue it was a reckless political theater that endangered law enforcement and undermined federal authority.
Homan, known for his unapologetic stance on border enforcement, responded bluntly. “This is a guy who took an oath to uphold the law,” Homan told Off The Press. “Instead, he’s encouraging people to break the law and interfere with federal officers performing lawful duties.”
The Newark protest was organized by progressive groups demanding the closure of ICE detention centers and an end to all deportations. Baraka, aligning himself with open-borders activists, joined the demonstration in what his office called “a show of solidarity” with undocumented immigrants. But to those who support the rule of law, the mayor’s actions represented a troubling escalation of local resistance to federal immigration policy.
Homan, who served in the Trump administration and has remained vocal about the Biden administration’s border failures, said Baraka’s arrest was “appropriate” and should serve as a reminder that “nobody is above the law.” He also called out the double standard in how media and government respond to left-wing lawbreaking compared to actions from conservatives.
“It’s ridiculous,” Homan continued. “If a conservative mayor led a group to interfere with a federal agency like the FBI, you’d never hear the end of it. There’d be 24/7 coverage, cries of insurrection, and congressional hearings. But a liberal mayor storms an ICE facility, and it’s portrayed as some kind of heroic protest?”
The protest took place amid heightened tensions around illegal immigration and border security. With record numbers of illegal crossings and rising concerns about crime, fentanyl trafficking, and overwhelmed border communities, conservatives have criticized Democratic officials for actively undermining immigration enforcement. Baraka’s actions, they say, are just the latest example of sanctuary policies gone rogue.
While Baraka’s arrest was brief and largely symbolic, the incident sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum. Progressive voices praised him for “standing with immigrants,” while conservative leaders blasted him for promoting lawlessness.
“This mayor chose to grandstand instead of govern,” said a retired ICE field agent familiar with New Jersey enforcement operations. “There’s a difference between peaceful protest and interfering with federal law enforcement. Baraka crossed that line.”
Public reaction has also raised eyebrows. While some New Jersey residents applauded the mayor’s bold stance, others expressed concern over his judgment and priorities. “We’ve got violent crime in Newark, homelessness, and education issues,” said one local business owner. “And this is what he’s focusing on? Breaking into an ICE facility?”
Baraka has a history of pushing progressive immigration policies, turning Newark into a sanctuary city and openly defying federal immigration detainers. But critics argue that such policies put politics over public safety. By obstructing ICE, they claim, local leaders are enabling criminal illegal aliens to remain in communities where they pose a threat.
Conservative pundits say the mayor’s arrest should serve as a wake-up call about the dangers of local officials who believe they can override federal immigration law. “Tom Homan is right,” said a source close to DHS. “These mayors aren’t heroes. They’re irresponsible ideologues who are putting their citizens at risk.”
The Biden administration has remained largely silent on the matter. Critics argue that the White House’s unwillingness to condemn the protest or defend ICE officers speaks volumes about the administration’s priorities. While federal immigration officers continue to work under increasingly hostile conditions, they are receiving little support from the very government they serve.
Homan, who has spent decades enforcing immigration law, said he won’t be surprised if this becomes a trend among left-wing mayors emboldened by the Biden administration’s soft policies. “We’ve got people in office who care more about illegal aliens than they do about Americans,” he said. “That’s the sad reality.”
The conservative base, already frustrated with open-border policies and collapsing law enforcement morale, sees this latest incident as more proof that the country is on the wrong track. As one commentator put it, “We’ve got border chaos, ICE under attack, and liberal mayors acting like radicals. It’s time we got serious about law and order again.”
