White House border czar Tom Homan denied on Sunday that ICE was terrorizing children after Senator Chris Murphy accused the agency of targeting parents at school bus stops in Danbury, Connecticut. Homan said ICE’s mission is to enforce the law passed by Congress, not to intimidate families.
Homan Fires Back at Murphy
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan rejected Murphy’s characterization, insisting ICE does not target children. “ICE isn’t in the business of terrorizing children,” he told host Dana Bash, adding that officers are simply enforcing the law.
DHS Refutes Allegations
A DHS spokesperson called Murphy’s claim false, saying ICE never singled out parents at a school bus stop. The agency warned that the senator’s narrative endangers officers, citing a 1,300% rise in assaults, a 3,200% rise in vehicular attacks and an 8,000% rise in death threats against ICE personnel.
Arrest Details and Legal Action
DHS identified the man detained in Danbury as Leonel Geovanny Morocho‑Arteaga, 28, who entered the country illegally and was previously released after a 2021 arrest. Agents seized a large kitchen knife during a targeted vehicle stop, and a child linked to the case remains under his mother’s guardianship.
Political Context
Senator Murphy, a vocal ICE critic, likened the operation to an oppressive British regime during the Revolutionary War. President Trump reversed a Biden‑era DHS guidance in January 2025, ordering ICE to resume vehicle stops after a one‑day pause, and declared that illegal aliens will face consequences.
