July 19, 2026 / 10:30 AM EDT
/ CBS News
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The following is the transcript of an interview with Tom Homan, Trump administration border czar, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 19, 2026.MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're back with President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan. Welcome back to Face the Nation.TOM HOMAN: Thanks for having me.MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Homan, we saw that two immigrants were shot in the span of a week. There was that one in Maine that was fatal just days after another one in Houston. We also saw that man fleeing agents in Florida who then was struck and killed by a tractor trailer. I know you've been trying to keep the department out of the headlines ever since that streak in Minnesota that was deadly. How do you respond to those who say what's happening now looks like very little has changed?TOM HOMAN: Well, you know, first of all, we'll wait and see what the investigations- how they play out, right? Because, you know, I don't want to get ahead of investigations on who's at fault, what exactly happened. Because we all know when the investigations happen, there's going to be cell phone video, there may be city cameras, and of course, then you got witness statements and affidavits from the officer, and- and witnesses. So, we got to let the investigations play out. So, I don't want to really comment on investigation themselves, but you know, I think, you know, Markwayne Mullin, you know, took some action, and in concern of the safety of the agents and- and how we do operations, and- and that's why he did that, you know, that- that- that pause on- on enforcement on vehicle stops. But you know, I- my concern is I've never- I've done this since 1984. My concern is I think a lot of the rhetoric that you see every day, especially in sanctuary cities, and at these protests that- resist, members of Congress saying ICE isn't a real law enforcement agency. I think that- I actually think that emboldens some people to say, "I'm not going to comply with ICE." And I think no matter what people think of ICE, no matter what you think of immigration law, you should always comply with law enforcement.MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. Yes, but in the shootings in both Houston and Maine, the people who were killed were not the intended targets. Have you caught the people you're actually looking for?TOM HOMAN: One of them, I believe, we did, but you know that happens in law enforcement all the time. I mean, we're working, you know, we get leads on individuals, and you say, okay, well, this subject lives at this house, he drives this car, and when that subject leaves that house, you know, 6:00 in the morning, and someone gets in that car from that house, you know, they assume, 'okay this is our guy, and they'll do a vehicle stop. And depending on when they make that stop and and that person complies, either they're going to be arrested or released. That's the way it's supposed to be. So you know, law enforcement deals with misidentity every day across the country, not just ICE, every law enforcement agency. I was a cop, I know- I know that happens.
