Tom Homan, the White House border czar, spoke on CBS’ “Face the Nation” about the use of unmarked vehicles by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He defended the practice, arguing it aids officers in locating suspects. He suggested that recent fatalities could have been avoided if individuals had complied with federal law enforcement instructions.
Homan stated, “They’d be alive today if they simply complied with a vehicle stop by federal law enforcement officer. Just comply.” His comments came after a Houston man was fatally shot by an ICE officer, leading to questions about the use of unmarked vehicles.
Margaret Brennan, host of “Face the Nation,” questioned Homan about the unmarked vehicles and the confusion they might cause. She noted the incident in Houston where 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot, and his family believed he was being chased by robbers.
The family thought it was a robbery because of the unmarked vehicle,” Brennan said.
Homan asserted that ICE vehicles are equipped to identify the officers, stating, “They had emergency lights. They activate emergency lights. Blue lights.” However, Brennan highlighted that available videos seemed to lack evidence of such lights and mentioned the absence of body cameras on officers.
Homan admitted he hadn’t reviewed the footage, saying, “I have not seen the videos.” He recognized potential issues, stating that the presence of lights and sirens is essential and acknowledging uncertainty about their usage in this incident.
Discussing overall law enforcement strategies, Homan noted that unmarked vehicles are common in cities like New York to locate elusive suspects. ICE plans to implement body cameras for recording vehicle stops, as demonstrated by recent encounters in Texas and Maine.
Following two fatal shootings, ICE aims to deploy body cameras to offer a clearer view of law enforcement actions. Homan stated, “Body cameras are the way to go,” emphasizing transparency for the public.
Despite assertions, Salgado was not the target in Houston. ICE claimed he attempted to ram a federal vehicle, leading to self-defense firing. Witnesses in Salgado’s vehicle disputed the account.
In a separate incident, an ICE officer shot a Colombian driver in Biddeford, Maine, fearing for public safety. Another individual, a Mexican national, was killed after escaping immigration agents in St. Augustine, Florida. Investigations continue for all incidents.
CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News, highlighting journalism’s role in shaping politics and culture. He joined the digital team in 2026 after graduating from Long Beach State University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Journalism. Tips can be sent to [email protected].