The "Border Czar" is an informal White House senior adviser position (a presidential appointee in the Executive Office) created to coordinate and oversee immigration/border policy and operations across agencies; it does not by itself create independent arrest or detention powers beyond whatever authority the person already holds or delegates from agencies (e.g., DHS components). Legal authority to enforce immigration laws remains with statutory agencies (DHS, ICE, CBP) and their officers; "czar" authority is coordination, direction, and policy influence within the Executive branch.
ICE (a DHS agency) can arrest or assume custody of noncitizens under federal immigration statutes and regulations—most relevantly 8 U.S.C. §1357 (powers of immigration officers) and ICE's detainer practice (8 C.F.R. §287.7 and Form I‑247/I‑247N). ICE may take custody from jails when it establishes probable cause that a person is removable and either issues a detainer/notification or makes a warrantless arrest where authorized; only ICE officers (or designated 287(g) officers) may issue detainers.
Homan’s "draw‑down" means reducing federal enforcement personnel or resources deployed in Minnesota as local violence or public‑safety threats fall; it would be triggered by measurable declines in violence/public‑safety threats or when operations no longer require federal presence, per his statement. The White House framed it as a contingent, data‑driven scaling back of resources.
CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is the DHS component responsible for securing U.S. borders and ports of entry (border patrol, inspections at ports), while ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforces immigration laws inside the U.S., handles interior arrests, detention, and removals, and investigates cross‑border crimes. Both are DHS law‑enforcement agencies with distinct missions and authorities.
"Criminal alien" prioritization typically targets noncitizens convicted of serious crimes or who pose public‑safety or national‑security threats—examples ICE lists include homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, weapons offenses, drug/human trafficking, and other violent felonies. ICE policy prioritizes those with probable cause of removability and convictions for the listed offenses.
County jails notify ICE of release dates by responding to ICE detainer/notification requests (Form I‑247/I‑247N) or through information‑sharing partnerships; ICE guidance and federal regulation (8 C.F.R. §287.7) govern use of detainers. Legal/privacy constraints include that detainers are requests (not mandatory), probable‑cause requirements to issue them, and limits on detention (generally up to 48 hours beyond release); state/local policies and civil‑rights litigation have also limited how and when facilities honor detainers.
In context, Homan used "attacks on ICE" to refer to protests, hostile actions, or criticism directed at ICE officers and operations; he said such attacks would prompt accountability measures and legal consequences (his remarks tied to ensuring officer safety and pursuing legal action), per his press remarks. The article does not detail specific enforcement steps beyond promising accountability and legal follow‑up.