Speaker Johnson to host border czar Tom Homan at Trump's joint address

House Speaker Mike Johnson will have border czar Tom Homan as a guest for President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, a move that emphasizes his support of the White House’s border security agenda.

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, lauded Mr. Homan in a statement provided first to The Washington Times, calling him an “ardent supporter” of securing the nation’s borders.

“His commitment to saving lives, supporting our border patrol agents, and enforcing immigration laws is unmatched,” Mr. Johnson said. “He has never backed down from telling the truth and fighting for what is right. America is safer and more prosperous with him serving as the Border Czar.”

Border crossing numbers are at some of their lowest levels in years, and Mr. Homan, who serves as deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been at the vanguard of the Trump administration’s push to round up and deport illegal immigrants nationwide.

Mr. Homan downplayed his role in securing the border during an appearance on Fox Business’ Varney and Co., contending that border patrol agents are the ones who should be cheered for reducing illegal immigration and border crossing.

He also heaped praise on Mr. Trump for his executive actions geared to halting the flow of illegal migrants.

“The border numbers are down 97%,” Mr. Homan said. “Why? Because President Trump is a strong president. He made executive decisions. He wrote a series of executive orders. He needs to take full credit for the success on the border and interior enforcement operation because he opened that aperture up.”

Mr. Trump is expected to outline his further plans to reduce illegal immigration during his address to both chambers of Congress. In less than two months since taking office, he has moved to suspend the asylum process at the southern border, and has moved to end birthright citizenship, which so far has been snarled in courts.

Olivia Hayes, one of Mr. Johnson’s constituents whose husband was killed by an illegal immigrant in a drunk driving incident, will also be joining the speaker Tuesday night.

Mr. Homan and Ms. Hayes will be among a long list of guests accompanying Mr. Johnson, which includes Noa Argamani, who was taken hostage by Hamas during the terrorist group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Commonwealth LNG Chair Ben Dell, and conservative media figures Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh.