Tom Homan Sticks It To Politico Reporter In Spat Over ICE Agents Wearing Masks

Border czar Tom Homan pulled no punches in a recent conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns, providing her with statistics and evidence when she suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were inviting criticism for wearing masks while conducting raids.

Homan pointed to the backlash against ICE agents — which has led not only to them being targeted in the streets but to them being targeted at their homes, along with their spouses and their children — and argued, just as acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has, that they should be allowed some measure of protection.

WATCH:

🚨NEW: Tom Homan *STEAMROLLS* Politico’s Dasha Burns when she casts doubt on need for ICE to wear masks🚨

BURNS: “I think one of the things that’s had a lot of folks up in arms is that ICE agents — unlike other law enforcement — have been masked to protect their identities.… pic.twitter.com/41lSuEhbEu

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) July 13, 2025

“I think one of the things that’s had a lot of folks up in arms is that ICE agents — unlike other law enforcement — have been masked to protect their identities,” Burns began. “That’s not something that we’ve really had on this scale in this country. Do you—”

“Well, we never had the scale of attacks on ICE we have now — up 700% attacks on ICE, doxing against ICE agents,” Homan interrupted.

“Well, you’ve had increased attacks on police officers as well in the wake of the defund the police movement, too. But they haven’t put masks on,” Burns protested.

“Name a police agency that has a 700% increase in assaults,” Homan challenged. “Name one. You can’t.”

Burns conceded: “I haven’t looked at that data, yeah.”

Homan went on to point out that it wasn’t just the agents themselves who were being targeted — although that would be serious enough — but activists and extremists were also doxxing their families.

“You won’t find one. The attacks on ICE is unprecedented, 700% increased. And we’re not even talking about the doxing of agents, their spouses, and their children,” Homan explained. “So they’re wearing masks to help give them some sort of protection … The same people that are complaining about ICE wearing masks, have they ever said anything about BLM protesters wearing masks?”

“Well, I mean, that leads me to the question that like: do you have concerns that it—?”

“Let me answer though. Let me answer,” Homan pushed back. “Did they ever say anything about the masked protesters that became criminals on college campuses that threatened Jewish students and took over buildings, destroyed property? They were all wearing masks. Did anybody pass legislation saying they can’t wear a mask during a protest? No.”

“I support ICE wearing masks … there needs to be some level of protection because the attacks is unprecedented,” Homan concluded. “They’re trying to make this country safe again — and they’re being vilified for it and attacked for it … We’re not going to tolerate it. Zero tolerance on this.”