homan

White House Border Czar Tom Homan, pictured during a television interview in September, allegedly accepted a $5,000 bribe from undercover FBI agents before President Donald Trump retook office, when Homan did not hold an official government position. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 21 (UPI) — “Border czar” Tom Homan reportedly accepted a $50,000 cash bribe from undercover FBI agents posing as business contractors prior to Donald Trump‘s election as president in 2024.

According to a report from MSNBC, FBI agents recorded a conversation with Homan in which he allegedly promised to assist in securing government contracts for work in the border security industry if Trump were elected to a second term.

The report says the FBI and justice department intended to wait and see if Homan would follow through on his alleged promises if Trump were elected to a second term. However, an investigation into the matter was scuttled after Trump was elected, MSNBC reported. The administration recently closed it.

Homan called the report “bullshit” when asked about it by NewsNation.

Current FBI director Kash Patel and Todd Blanhce, the deputy attorney general, told MSNBC the allegations are baseless.

“This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and justice department prosecutors,” Patel said. “They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.”

The cash payment was delivered inside a bag from the Cava fast food chain, The New York Times reported.

Justice Department officials closed the case, citing doubts of whether prosecutors would be able to prove that there had been any specific promises made in exchange for the money, and because he was not in any official position at the time of the money exchange.

June 19 (UPI) — The Trump administration’s border czar Tom Homan confirmed Thursday that immigration raids in U.S. agriculture and hospitality sectors of the economy will continue despite recent suggestions of a pullback.

Homan said farm, restaurant and hotel workers will be the focus of immigration enforcement operations, but people with criminal backgrounds will be the first priority.

“We’re going to continue to do worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis,” Homan said. “Criminals come first.”

Last week, the administration said it was considering standing down on some Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in those industries, suggesting that such enforcement actions could cripple companies that rely on the workers, which President Donald Trump acknowledged in a post on his social media account.

Trump’s pullback was largely attributed to comments by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins who said immigration enforcement measures in industries that typically employ undocumented workers could hobble their productivity.

The president’s announced pullback surprised people who take a hard line stance on immigration and have been largely supportive of Trump aggressive enforcement tactics.

Homan brought the discussion back to hiring practices Thursday while walking back the stand down on immigration enforcement operations.

“Well, first of all, there’s a right way and a wrong way to hire workers. There are legal programs that bring farm workers in,” Homan continued. “Second of all, I’ve been saying for years, Congress needs to address this. But because Congress failed, it just doesn’t mean we ignore it. It’s illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien.”