Nigel Farage wants Tom Homan to secure UK borders, with the Reform UK leader saying he would “hijack” Donald Trump’s immigration adviser and bring him to Britain to strengthen the country’s border controls.
Farage made the remarks while speaking at an event in the United States where Homan was a guest, praising Trump’s ICE adviser and outlining his desire to see a tougher approach to immigration enforcement in the UK.
Nigel Farage targets Trump’s ICE adviser for UK border policy
Farage said Homan could play a role in helping Britain secure its borders, jokingly telling the US immigration official: “I’ve got terrible news for you. We’re hijacking Tom Homan and taking him back with us to secure our borders.”
Homan is a key adviser to Trump on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the US agency responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws.
The remarks came as ICE continues to face scrutiny over its enforcement methods and the deaths of people during encounters with immigration officers.
Farage praises Homan’s approach to deportations
Farage has previously interviewed Homan for his GB News programme and described him as uncompromising, while praising what he characterised as his results on deportations.
Reform UK has adopted a tougher immigration platform than Britain’s other major political parties, including proposals for mass deportations of people who entered the country illegally and the deployment of the Royal Navy to intercept small boats crossing the English Channel.
The party has not indicated whether it would seek to reproduce the specific enforcement methods associated with ICE in the United States.
Farage urges Europe to take a ‘more sensible view’ of Trump
The Reform UK leader also used his appearance in the US to defend aspects of Trump’s administration, arguing that Europe should reconsider how it views the American president.
Farage said it was “important that our country, and Europe too, get a better, more sensible view of America than it gets of the Trump administration through traditional mainstream media who frankly paint the whole project out to be villainous”.
His comments mark another expression of support for Trump after Farage appeared to distance himself from the US president earlier this year.
In April, Farage said he had not spoken to Trump for several months and questioned the president’s judgment over the Iran war.
Nigel Farage and Trump still differ on key issues
Despite his latest praise for Trump and Homan, Farage has not supported every position taken by the US president.
Earlier this week, Trump said he would like to see a united Ireland, prompting Farage to reject the idea.
“Northern Ireland is a proud and integral part of the United Kingdom,” Farage said.
“The people of Northern Ireland neither want a referendum nor unification.”
UK-US relations remain politically sensitive
Farage’s latest visit to the United States comes amid tensions between Washington and London over Iran and policy towards Israel.
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The Reform UK leader’s comments also come ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in New York next week.
The discussion around immigration, deportation and border enforcement is likely to remain prominent as Reform UK continues to push its immigration agenda.
Reform UK’s immigration plans
Reform UK has pledged a significantly tougher approach to illegal immigration, with mass deportations and stronger measures against small-boat crossings forming part of its platform.
Farage’s comments about Homan add an international dimension to that position, highlighting the Reform leader’s interest in the US administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
For now, his suggestion that Britain should “hijack” Homan was presented as a remark at a US event rather than a formal announcement of any appointment or agreement.
