A resurfaced clip from the September 19, 2025 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher is drawing renewed attention after Tom Homan, President Trump’s White House Border Czar and former acting ICE director, accused the Biden administration of intentionally dismantling U.S. border security for political advantage.

Speaking on the program, Homan stated that Joe Biden was “the first president in the history of this nation that came into office and unsecured the border — on purpose.” He argued that the “only logical explanation” for what he described as deliberate policy reversals was the pursuit of political benefit, suggesting Democrats anticipated long-term electoral gains through increased population counts and future voter bases.

Homan pointed to what he characterized as approximately 90 executive actions taken early in Biden’s term that reversed Trump-era enforcement measures. Among them were halting construction of the border wall, ending the Remain in Mexico policy, expanding the use of humanitarian parole, and implementing the CBP One mobile application to process migrant appointments. According to Homan, these decisions collectively weakened deterrence mechanisms that had previously reduced unlawful crossings.

Border encounter data between 2021 and 2024 recorded more than 10 million encounters at the southwest border, marking historically high volumes during that period. Critics of the Biden administration argue that the surge strained federal resources, overwhelmed local communities, and empowered transnational criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and human smuggling. Democrats, in contrast, have pointed to attempts to impose asylum restrictions and have blamed congressional gridlock, including the collapse of a bipartisan border bill, for limiting broader reform.

Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, administration officials report that southwest border apprehensions have dropped sharply. December figures cited by the White House show 6,478 apprehensions, representing a reported 96 percent decline compared to peak levels during the prior administration. Officials also emphasize that there have been zero releases into the interior for eight consecutive months, calling the numbers historic lows.

Homan, who has served under six presidents of both parties, contrasted prior administrations’ enforcement efforts with what he described as unprecedented reversals under Biden. He argued there was “no other reason” to implement such sweeping changes, maintaining that stronger border enforcement reduces risks associated with narcotics trafficking, human exploitation, and national security threats.

The clip’s renewed circulation comes as immigration remains one of the most consequential political issues heading into the 2026 midterm cycle. Supporters of the Trump administration cite the recent enforcement data as proof that executive authority alone can dramatically reshape border conditions, while critics continue to debate long-term immigration reform and humanitarian obligations.

The exchange underscores how deeply polarized the border debate has become, with competing narratives over intent, impact, and responsibility shaping the national conversation.