This controversial exchange highlights a significant misunderstanding about immigration policy and deportation laws in the U.S. The statement by Ana Navarro, a co-host on The View, suggesting that U.S. citizens could face deportation alongside undocumented family members, has sparked debate. However, former ICE Acting Director Tom Homan, now serving as President-elect Donald Trump’s “border czar,” firmly rejected this interpretation during his appearance on Hannity on November 11.
Homan clarified that U.S. citizens cannot legally be deported under federal immigration law, as deportation only applies to non-citizens who violate immigration regulations. He criticized Navarro’s remarks as uninformed, stating, “The View’s co-hosts have no idea what they’re talking about.” Homan emphasized that the incoming Trump administration’s focus will be on securing the southern border and enforcing immigration laws as they pertain to undocumented individuals, not American citizens.
The claims on The View appear to stem from discussions about family deportations. In certain cases, families with mixed immigration statuses—where some members are U.S. citizens and others are undocumented—face difficult decisions. If an undocumented parent or spouse is deported, U.S. citizen family members may choose to leave voluntarily to keep the family unit intact. However, this is not the same as the government forcibly deporting American citizens.
Homan’s rebuttal underlines the need for clarity in conversations about immigration policy, particularly as the Trump administration plans to revisit its strategies for border security and deportation during its upcoming term. These policies remain a topic of contention, with differing interpretations of their scope and impact on mixed-status families.
