“Traitor!”: Heckler’s Shout Derails Tom Homan’s Border Speech at UTEP
EL PASO, Texas — A Turning Point USA event at the University of Texas at El Paso was briefly disrupted Thursday when a heckler challenged former ICE director and current White House border czar Tom Homan during a speech on immigration enforcement.
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According to video from the event, the interruption began when a man in the audience shouted “Traitor!” at Homan. The former ICE chief responded, “Call me what you want. I don’t care,” before telling the man to “grow a backbone, put a Kevlar vest and a gun on your hip, and go secure this border.”
The exchange occurred as Homan discussed federal border policy and the strain on local communities. Event attendees applauded his response, while security escorted the heckler from the room.
Outside the venue, demonstrators gathered to protest Homan’s appearance. Some local residents and advocacy groups objected to his presence in El Paso, citing concerns about his long-standing support for aggressive immigration enforcement measures.
During the event, the heckler also referenced the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting, suggesting that hardline immigration rhetoric contributed to the attack. Homan rejected the claim and denied any connection between his views and the gunman’s motivations.
The speech continued under heightened security, and no arrests were reported. Organizers described the event as part of a broader campus tour focused on national border policy.