White House border czar Tom Homan said the administration is holding discussions about granting legal status to some undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
This development suggests a potential shift or specific carve-out in the administration's approach to the millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally [1]. Any change in policy regarding legal status would impact a significant portion of the undocumented population and could alter the current trajectory of deportation efforts.
During an interview with CBS News, Homan was asked whether he supports granting legal status to undocumented immigrants who are law-abiding. He did not provide a definitive yes or no answer but confirmed that internal conversations are taking place.
"There's discussions going on," Homan said [1].
Homan said that while he is part of some of these conversations, he is not involved in all of them. He said that he would not speculate on the final outcome or the specific criteria for eligibility before the president makes an official announcement.
"I'm involved with some and not others, but I'm not going to get ahead of the president on this," Homan said [1].
Homan said that the decision-making process involves high-level coordination within the executive branch. He said that the president is actively engaging with his senior advisors to determine the best course of action regarding the status of these individuals.
"I know the president's talking to various members of his Cabinet," Homan said [2].
The border czar did not specify which categories of undocumented immigrants might be considered for legal status or what the timeline for a decision would be. The administration has previously focused on strict enforcement and removals, making the mention of legal status discussions a notable point of inquiry for policymakers, and immigrant advocates alike.
“"There's discussions going on."”
The acknowledgment of ongoing discussions indicates that the administration is weighing a nuanced approach to undocumented immigration, potentially balancing mass deportation goals with a pathway for specific law-abiding groups. By deferring to President Trump and the Cabinet, Homan is signaling that any such policy would be a top-down executive decision rather than a purely operational border strategy.
