A ramp up in immigration enforcement is coming to New York and other so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions after Labor Day, President Donald Trump’s border czar said Thursday.

Tom Homan’s comments came as the White House is proceeding with a crackdown in Washington, D.C. and is eying major immigration actions in Chicago. 

“You can see a ramp up of operations in Chicago, absolutely,” Homan told reporters. “You’re going to see a ramp up of operations in New York, you’re going to see a ramp up of operations continue in LA and, you know, Portland, Seattle.”

What You Need To Know

  • White House Border Czar Tom Homan on Thursday warned of a “ramp up” of immigration enforcement operations in New York City and other so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions after Labor Day

  • Thursday’s warning follows the president’s controversial federal takeover of policing in Washington, D.C. this month, which has included an expansion of immigration enforcement
  • It also comes as the White House is reportedly considering using a military base to support upcoming immigration operations in Chicago

  • A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said Hochul has “been clear: New York State consistently works with federal law enforcement to crack down on gang members or violent criminals, but we will never support cruel actions that target those individuals who are contributing to society or tear families apart”

What exactly that “ramp up” will look like is unclear. The White House did not elaborate and the press team for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

This is not the first time Homan has threatened the Big Apple in such a way. Spectrum News identified similar comments about New York just last month and also last year. 

“We’re going to flood the zones. The sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don’t want,” Homan told reporters in July. 

“If we can’t get assistance from New York City,” he said during an appearance on Fox News last November, “we may have to double the number of agents we send to New York City.” 

Thursday’s warning, though, follows the president’s controversial federal takeover of policing in Washington, D.C. this month, which has included an expansion of immigration enforcement. It also comes as the White House is reportedly considering using a military base to support upcoming immigration operations in Chicago.

In New York, Mayor Eric Adams’ team indicated they were not provided a heads up about Homan’s latest threat. The mayor has rebuffed past talk of surging the National Guard into the city, and recently called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end arrests in the city’s immigration courts. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said Hochul has “been clear: New York State consistently works with federal law enforcement to crack down on gang members or violent criminals, but we will never support cruel actions that target those individuals who are contributing to society or tear families apart.”

Spectrum News D.C. Bureau Producer Melody Kloepfer contributed to this report.