NEW YORK — Former acting ICE Director and Trump administration border czar Tom Homan has issued a bold warning to so-called sanctuary cities, pledging to "flood the zone" with federal enforcement efforts as part of a broader plan to tackle rising urban crime.

Appearing on Fox News’ "Hannity", Homan directly blamed the surge in crime in cities like New York on sanctuary policies that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

“We’re going to flood the zone,” Homan declared. “If these cities want to shield criminal illegal aliens, then we’re going to send in more agents, conduct more operations, and make public safety the number one priority again.”

Sanctuary cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, have long maintained policies that limit communication between local law enforcement and ICE, arguing that such measures promote trust between immigrant communities and police. Critics, including Homan, say these policies instead enable repeat offenders to avoid deportation and commit more crimes.

Homan cited numerous examples of violent offenders released despite federal detainer requests, asserting that the lack of coordination has led to preventable tragedies.

He also voiced strong support for Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, which emphasizes deporting criminal aliens, expanding ICE operations, and increasing transparency around crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

“It’s not about politics. It’s about protecting American lives,” Homan said.

The comments come as immigration and public safety are once again top issues in the 2026 election cycle, and the Trump campaign continues to draw a hard line on border security and law enforcement reform.