By Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, has invited Pope Leo XIV to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on a ride-along, offering what he described as a firsthand look at U.S. border operations.
Homan, a practicing Catholic, extended the invitation during a Turning Point USA event on Wednesday in response to the pope’s recent criticism of the administration’s immigration policies as “inhumane” and “morally indefensible.”
“I’ll sit down and talk to him, because they’re talking about something they don’t understand,” Homan said, arguing that stricter enforcement policies serve humanitarian ends by discouraging dangerous migration routes.
🚨 WOW! Trump Border Czar Tom Homan officially invites Pope Leo to an ICE RIDEALONG after Leo criticized the mass deportations
Q: Is this your invitation to the Pope for a ride-along with ICE?
Homan said it perfectly: "Yes! I said I would sit down and talk to them because… pic.twitter.com/NUAIblZa3z
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 23, 2026
“An open border is the most inhumane thing you can do,” Homan stated. “When you make that promise to the whole world, the most vulnerable people will give their life’s savings to the cartels to make that dangerous journey.”
Homan pointed to what he described as a sharp decline in illegal crossings under Donald Trump, citing a roughly 97% reduction.
“President Trump has illegal immigration down 96.7% — about 97%. When 97% less people are coming, how many women aren’t being raped? How many children aren’t dying? How many pounds of fentanyl is not getting into kill Americans?” he said.
The exchange reflects ongoing tensions between the administration and the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, has criticized U.S. immigration enforcement and weighed in on other foreign policy issues, including Iran. Trump has responded forcefully, at one point describing the pope as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” while praising the pontiff’s brother, Louis “Lou” Prevost, for his conservative social media activity.
Despite the rhetoric, both sides have recently signaled an effort to ease tensions. The pope clarified remarks from a sermon referencing a “handful of tyrants,” which some interpreted as directed at Trump.
“As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,” the pope told reporters.
Vice President JD Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the administration, welcomed the clarification.
“I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen – the reality is often much more complicated,” Vance posted on Twitter.
I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen–the reality is often much more complicated.
Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he… https://t.co/SxWCKyhDSj
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 18, 2026
Homan reiterated his support for the administration’s policies and credited Trump’s leadership. “President Trump is a remarkable leader for this nation,” he said.
The Vatican has indicated that Pope Leo XIV has no plans to visit the United States this year.
[Read More: Famous Liberal Group Caught Paying For Racism]
