By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Legal immigration has long shaped America’s identity, while unauthorized migration threatens public safety, stability, and fairness.
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s “border czar,” has led the development of a comprehensive deportation strategy to address these threats.
In Aurora, recent gang takeovers of apartment complexes underscore the urgency of enforcement, as local police confront transnational criminals targeting vulnerable communities.
The Value of Legal Immigration
The legal immigration process provides people with an organized framework to enter the country through systems which guarantee both safety and successful assimilation.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, legal immigrants generate $2 trillion annually for the US economy through their work while filling essential job vacancies and fulfilling their tax obligations
Employment visas or family reunification, include thorough background checks and legal compliance, building a foundation of trust and stability.
This stands in stark contrast to illegal immigration, which often stretches public resources thin and gives criminal networks an edge.
Tom Homan, with four decades of experience in border enforcement, passionately advocates legal immigration.
In a June 2025 interview, he remarked, “Do people realize there are millions patiently waiting in line, completing tests, covering fees, and undergoing background checks—all to join the greatest nation on earth the right way? Yet they’re sidelined while others bypass the rules by crossing the border.”
This view aligns with those of many legal immigrants, particularly those within Hispanic communities, where 72% of Hispanic adults support the deportation of at least some undocumented residents, according to Pew Research Center data.
The recent problems in Aurora show that undocumented immigrants face increased vulnerability to gang and trafficking exploitation.
The U.S. can reduce these dangers by maintaining strong legal pathways while providing humanitarian safeguards which align with Homan’s vision for a system that protects law-abiding applicants.
The Dangers of Unvetted Illegal Immigration
The U.S. faces major public safety and national security risks when unvetted migrants remain in the country. The absence of background checks makes it virtually impossible to detect criminal history or security threats among applicants. Homan pointed this out, saying, “Do you really think countries like China or Syria will share security details about their people with us? Of course not. This administration misled everyone by claiming proper vetting was done.”
The surge of unauthorized migration during the Biden administration worsened these issues.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 10.2 million border encounters between 2021 and 2024 which included 266,000 Venezuelans and 57,000 Chinese nationals while experts estimate 1.5 to 2 million undocumented migrants evaded detection.
These non-vetted entries have created a significant financial strain on the system. The Center for Immigration Studies estimated illegal immigration expenses for taxpayers at $729 billion between 2021 and 2024 for education and healthcare and welfare and criminal justice services.
Homan pointed out the worldwide nature of the issue saying, “Since Biden took office, people from 181 different countries have crossed that border—nearly the whole world.” This makes it harder to vet people due to the U.S. not having access to most countries’ criminal databases, which increases the chance of dangerous people getting through.
The emergence of transnational gangs such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua (TdA) poses a concerning threat to migrant communities.
The Department of State designated TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because of its violent activities which included kidnappings, extortion and attacks on U.S. law enforcement.
Homan warned, “There’s no such thing as harmless illegal immigration—it triggers a cascade of problems,” pointing to a 600% spike in sex trafficking and over 4,000 migrant deaths during Biden’s tenure.
The International Organization for Migration confirms 4,000–6,000 deaths from 2021 to 2024, fueled by risky migration enabled by lax policies. A 2017 Doctors Without Borders report found 31% of female migrants experienced sexual assault, with underreporting likely pushing the true figure higher, highlighting the human cost.
National security is also at stake with unvetted entries.
CBP reported 428 terrorist watchlist encounters at the southern border from 2021 to 2024, a stark jump from 14 under Trump.
Homan explained, “When Border Patrol is stretched thin, with 70% of agents pulled from security duties, cartels exploit the gaps—and that’s how watchlist individuals get through.” A 2023 CBP report backs this, noting that shifting agents to humanitarian roles has weakened interdiction efforts.
The fentanyl crisis adds another layer of danger.
Homan stated that “Over a quarter million Americans have died from fentanyl pouring across an open border” while the CDC projected 200,000–240,000 fentanyl-related deaths from 2021 to 2024. The Customs and Border Protection agency confiscated 27,000 pounds of fentanyl during 2023 primarily at border entry points but illegal border crossings have established new smuggling pathways.
The dangers of gangs and drug trafficking and drug smuggling require both border security and legal immigration procedures and thorough vetting processes.
Current Deportation Efforts
To tackle these challenges, the Trump administration, under Homan’s leadership, has launched a massive deportation initiative. They have set a target of 3,000 deportations daily, noting, “It’s achievable with the resources we’ve got—thousands of arrest teams now, plus support from the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals working with ICE.”
Since January 2025, ICE reports 59,661 removals in 100 days, a figure lower than Biden-era levels, reflecting an ~83% drop in border crossings from 2.5 million encounters in 2023 to ~35,000 monthly in 2025, per CBP data.
Homan focuses on public safety and national security threats, such as gang members and criminals, but insists no undocumented immigrant is off the table. He argued, “If we don’t follow through on deportation orders, what’s the point? We might as well close immigration courts—they’d be meaningless.”
Immigration court data supports this urgency, showing 87–90% of asylum seekers denied relief over the past decade, leading to millions of removal orders. Ignoring these undermines legal authority and invites more illegal crossings.
Critics argue that mass deportations could cost $315 billion to remove the 11 million undocumented immigrants, according to the American Immigration Council.
The alternative approach comes with its own financial costs due to not deporting illegal immigrants costing taxpayers $150.7 billion each year which adds up to $602.8 billion from 2021 to 2024 for education, healthcare, welfare, and criminal justice, per the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
The Center for Immigration Studies suggests an even steeper long-term fiscal drain of $746.3 billion for the illegal immigrant population, excluding descendants. The initial cost of deportation proves expensive but the future expenses of not acting now will become more costly as the population expands.
Homan also takes aim at sanctuary cities, which he believes hinder ICE by denying jail access, forcing riskier arrests in public. He warned, “Sanctuary cities are a hurdle—we’ll send more agents, ramp up worksite enforcement, and make more collateral arrests.”
An ICE report reveals 70% of detainer requests were rejected in these areas, increasing dangers for agents and residents. Homan’s plan involves boosting agent presence in these regions, a strategy mirrored in Aurora’s local efforts.
Aurora’s Gang Takeovers: A Local Manifestation of National Issues
In Aurora, the dangers of crossing borders without authorization are painfully obvious.
On June 17, 2025, Police Chief Todd Chamberlain held a press conference about a gang incident at 544 Peoria Street, where “about nine armed individuals, one in a hoodie and another with a bandana, lined up at a door in a threatening stance, intimidating a Venezuelan family who’d just moved in two days earlier.”
A neighbor’s video is similar to a 2024 Tren de Aragua (TdA) takeover at Dallas Street, marked by extortion and squatting.
Chamberlain reported 44 service calls at the complex since August 2024, including 12 distinct incidents: a 14-year-old kidnapped, a victim detained, and 22 shots fired. He suspects TdA involvement, observing, “The behavior matches TdA or a related group—these don’t look like typical gang members; they could pass for store clerks.” A suspect, Larry Galbreth, admitted to being “tattooed” by Venezuelans and mentioned “Tusi” (a cocaine-ketamine mix), hinting at gang initiation.
Aurora’s response has been hands-on, with Chamberlain noting, “Since June 9, we’ve put in over 728 personnel hours, knocked on 11 vacant unit doors, executed a search warrant recovering a gun and hoodie, and arrested two suspects.”
The department has joined forces with ICE and HSI to support Homan’s goal of federal-local collaboration. Chamberlain emphasized immigrant protection by stating that “These people are being preyed on by their own community, and we’re the only ones standing up for them. I never see protests for the victims.”
TdA’s methods mirror Homan’s concerns about gang exploitation.
The Department of State designated TdA a transnational criminal organization, citing its role in kidnapping and trafficking. A DHS memo confirms TdA’s spread across 16 states, including double-rent schemes at Dallas Street.
Challenges and Solutions
Aurora’s situation highlights national enforcement hurdles.
Homan’s deportation push faces resistance from sanctuary policies, which he claims “shield child rapists” by blocking ICE arrests.
A balanced approach requires strengthening legal immigration channels together with deportation enforcement. Legal immigration allows the admission of vetted law-abiding individuals who reduce the number of potential gang recruits.
Deportations, as Homan argues, deter illegal crossings and neutralize threats, with CBP data showing an ~83% drop in encounters from 2.5 million in 2023 to ~35,000 monthly in 2025 due to tougher policies. Chamberlain’s proactive policing, supported by federal partners, reflects this approach, though both need congressional funding, per Homan.
Conclusion
Legal immigration upholds America’s values, ensuring fairness and safety, while unauthorized migration breeds gangs, trafficking, and drugs, as seen in Aurora’s TdA takeovers. Homan’s deportation efforts, driven by his belief that “secure borders save lives,” target the criminals Chamberlain faces, whom he calls “a cancer that must be cut out.” With adequate funding for legal pathways and enforcement, Congress can protect communities and honor legal immigrants. Aurora’s fight represents the national struggle to protect both law and order and show compassion.