White House border czar Tom Homan made one thing crystal clear this week: the Trump administration isn’t slowing down on deportations just because another Democrat decided to discover “sanctuary” policies on Day One in office.
Virginia’s new Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger—who the media spent months marketing as a so-called “moderate”—signed an executive order blocking state and local law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Apparently, those tough-on-crime campaign ads had an expiration date. Funny how that works.
Speaking on the “Ruthless” podcast with co-host John Ashbrook, Homan didn’t hide his disbelief at Spanberger’s sudden transformation. As a Virginia resident, he remembered her campaign well—especially the ads where she portrayed herself as a law enforcement-minded leader who helped rescue children from sex trafficking. Strong messaging. Very dramatic. And gone almost instantly.
According to Homan, the contrast couldn’t be sharper. One day, Spanberger is presenting herself as a defender of law enforcement and vulnerable children. The next, she’s issuing an executive order that ties the hands of officers who work with ICE. Law enforcement officer on the campaign trail, career politician in the governor’s office. That didn’t take long.
Homan also reminded listeners what the Trump administration has actually been doing—while others were busy giving speeches. The administration has already located 130,000 missing children, many of whom were victims of sex trafficking and forced labor. That effort, he pointed out, was something the previous administration wasn’t even pursuing. These aren’t abstract statistics; these are real children, real crimes, and real consequences.
He noted that ICE operations have led to arrests of criminal aliens, including sexual predators of children, just in recent weeks. The work involves dismantling trafficking rings and removing public safety threats from communities. That’s not political theater—that’s enforcement. And it’s happening whether certain governors like it or not.
While Homan acknowledged Spanberger’s past service as a CIA officer and said he respects that history, he didn’t mince words about her current direction. In his view, she seemed to forget that service the moment she stepped into the governor’s mansion. He expressed hope for cooperation but admitted the early signs aren’t encouraging.
When asked whether Virginia’s new executive order would slow ICE down, Homan’s response was blunt and refreshingly honest: no. The administration will work around it, just as it already does in states like New York, California, Oregon, and Illinois. These states don’t cooperate, so ICE adapts—by sending more resources and more agents. Sanctuary policies don’t stop enforcement; they just make it more visible.
Homan explained that the Trump administration has been clear from the start. Thousands of new agents are being brought on, and sanctuary jurisdictions will be flooded with enforcement resources. When states release public safety threats back onto the streets, the federal government steps in. That’s not punishment—it’s responsibility.
In the end, Homan summed it up simply: these policies won’t stop the mission. Governors can stand on the sidelines and complain, but ICE will keep doing its job. The administration will protect communities, enforce the law, and rescue those who’ve been ignored for far too long.
And that’s the real takeaway here. While some politicians pivot for headlines, the Trump administration stays focused on results—strong borders, safer communities, and real action. That’s not just good policy; it’s good news for the country, and it’s exactly the kind of leadership Americans voted for.
