HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PROTECT THE “BORDER CZAR”? THE MILLION DOLAR SECURITY AROUND TOM HOMAN REVEALS THE PRIORITIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

*By Nicolapps, Human Rights Advocate*

In November 2024, President Donald Trump appointed Tom Homan as the new "border czar," a key figure in the aggressive implementation of U.S. immigration policies. What few knew until recently is that his personal security comes at a multimillion-dollar cost to American taxpayers.

According to a CBS News report, the annual cost of protecting Homan amounts to approximately $12 million, funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This sum includes the deployment of over 30 special agents who provide 24/7 protection. Expenses also cover air travel, hotel accommodations, and other logistical needs for the security team, composed of members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The security detail follows Homan to his residence, the West Wing of the White House, and the headquarters of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Washington, D.C., as well as during all his movements.

The reason for this unprecedented protection? Death threats that Homan claims to have received after taking office. As the public face of ICE’s large-scale immigration raids and a staunch defender of hardline policies, it’s no surprise he’s become a controversial figure. What’s concerning is the lack of transparency: the DHS has refused to confirm or deny the exact figure, only stating that it is committed to keeping its leaders safe amid “dangerous rhetoric” from critics and activists.

The scale of this spending is difficult to justify, especially when compared to other cases: former National Security Advisors John Bolton and Robert O’Brien also received taxpayer-funded protection with similar costs, while former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was protected by U.S. Marshals at a cost of $5 to $8 million annually.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, DHS spending is expected to increase by $65 million in 2025 compared to the previous year. In this context, one must ask: is it truly a priority to allocate such vast resources to protect a figure who has generated deep resentment within immigrant communities?

Beyond the budget debate, this case reveals a serious contradiction: while immigrant rights are increasingly stripped away and raids escalate, those who enforce these policies are shielded with public funds, with little accountability.

Tom Homan’s security detail has thus become yet another symbol of a system with upside-down priorities—one that criminalizes migration while pouring millions into fortifying the very individuals responsible for these repressive measures.