Tom Homan Responds to Pope Francis' Criticism on U.S. Deportation Policies: "Stick to the Catholic Church."

Tom Homan, 63, former Border Czar under President Donald Trump, fired back at Pope Francis' criticism of U.S. deportation policies during a press briefing at the White House. Homan, a lifelong Catholic, suggested the Pope should focus on his religious duties instead of commenting on U.S. border enforcement.

"He ought to fix the Catholic Church and concentrate on his work and leave border enforcement to us," said Homan. "Stick to the Catholic Church. Leave border enforcement to us."

Pope Francis had expressed disapproval of Trump's policies regarding large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants. In a letter, the pontiff stated, “The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.” He added that deportations harm individuals' dignity, break families apart, and leave them vulnerable.

In response, Homan pointed out the security measures in place at the Vatican. "He wants to attack us securing our border? He has a wall around the Vatican, does he not? So, he has a wall to protect his people and himself, but we can’t have a wall around the United States?"

The debate over migration between Trump and Pope Francis goes back to 2016 when Francis controversially stated that anyone advocating for a wall to keep migrants out "is not a Christian." His comments were made after a Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border, coinciding with Trump’s campaign promise to build a border wall.

Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, his administration has focused heavily on border security and deportations. Executive orders aimed at removing undocumented immigrants, including the termination of birthright citizenship, have resulted in thousands being detained and deported.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that over 8,000 individuals were apprehended since Donald Trump took office, with some being deported while others are held in federal prisons or at Guantanamo Bay.

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