US border czar defends agent masks amid Homeland Security funding standoff

In an interview on CBS News' Face the Nation, Homan acknowledged his personal discomfort with officers wearing masks but insisted the practice is necessary for safety. "I don't like the masks either," he stated, arguing that immigration personnel "have to protect themselves." He cited figures showing assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers increased by 1,500% and threats by 8,000%, though no timeframe or source for these statistics was provided. The Department of Homeland Security previously referenced a 1,300% rise in assaults in a January 26 release without specifying details.

Funding impasse deepens

The debate over officer safety protocols unfolds against the backdrop of a partial government shutdown that began Saturday over DHS funding disagreements. Congressional Democrats and the White House remain at odds over immigration enforcement reforms, with lawmakers departing Washington without an agreement and not expected to return until February 23. Democrats have proposed requiring immigration agents to wear body cameras and visible identification, banning masks, ending racial profiling, and obtaining judicial warrants for arrests on private property.

Homan rejects Democratic demands

Homan characterized several Democratic proposals as "unreasonable" and flatly rejected claims of racial profiling. On the warrant requirement, he asserted federal law does not mandate judicial warrants for immigration arrests, stating ICE operates "within the framework of federal statutes enacted by Congress and signed by a president." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has insisted that "dramatic change" must precede any funding legislation, setting the stage for continued stalemate.

Operational impact in Minnesota

Meanwhile, Homan disclosed that more than 1,000 immigration agents have departed Minnesota, with several hundred more expected to leave, leaving only a "small force" temporarily in place. The significant reduction in personnel highlights the practical consequences of the ongoing political standoff and raises questions about enforcement capacity. For international observers including Türkiye, which manages its own complex migration dynamics, the US situation underscores the challenges governments face in balancing enforcement capabilities, officer safety, and accountability measures amid polarized political environments.