Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan gave a sobering account during a speech at the Republican National Lawyers Association’s annual policy conference, highlighting the dangers children face when entering the United States illegally.
Homan revealed that just days earlier, agents had discovered a 14-year-old migrant girl who had been living with two adult men. She was found to be pregnant and had been subjected to exploitation.
“We just found one two days ago,” Homan said. “A 14-year-old little girl. Living with two adult males. She’s pregnant. We are taking care of her—both physically and mentally.”
The teenager has since been placed in medical care and is also receiving counseling, according to ICE officials. Homan stressed that her case is part of a much larger problem at the border.
“We Are Not Heartless”
In his remarks, Homan rejected claims that ICE operates without compassion. He said agents often face heartbreaking situations that critics rarely see.
“Despite what the media says, we are not heartless,” he said. “We care about these kids. I am a father, and that’s why this fight matters so much. Cases like this are why we do the work we do.”
Homan added that agents regularly encounter children in dangerous or abusive situations, often abandoned or forced into situations no child should endure.
A Daily Reality
The ICE chief stressed that the young girl’s case was not an isolated incident. According to him, officers uncover similar situations frequently.
“This is happening every day,” Homan warned. “We will do everything we can to put an end to it.”
Advocates have long warned that minors who cross into the U.S., especially those traveling alone, face high risks of being taken advantage of by criminal networks. Once inside the country, many become trapped in abusive living arrangements or forced labor.
Border Security and Trafficking
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, the administration has highlighted new policies aimed at securing the border and disrupting criminal networks.
A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security showed dramatic decreases in illegal entries: a 93 percent drop in daily encounters, a 95 percent reduction in “gotaways”, and nearly a 100 percent decrease in illegal crossings. Officials credit these changes with making it harder for cartels and smugglers to operate.
“Human smugglers and criminal gangs thrive when the border is open,” Homan said. “When we shut down illegal crossings, we shut down their ability to exploit vulnerable people—especially children.”
A Veteran’s Perspective
Homan, who began his career in border enforcement in 1984, has worked under six presidents. He said the current approach is the toughest he has seen in decades, but also one that places greater emphasis on the protection of victims.
“Every president I’ve served under took border security seriously, but what we’re doing now is stronger, and it’s saving lives,” he said.
The rescue of the 14-year-old girl, though tragic in its details, has become a symbol for Homan of why strict border enforcement and vigilance against criminal networks remain central to ICE’s mission.
“Children like her deserve better,” he concluded. “And we will not stop until they get it.”