
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski cornered President Donald Trump's top border official Tom Homan on Tuesday over the president's immigration policies.
"I understand that Donald Trump won the election in part because of this part of his [immigration policies]. I'm not arguing it. I just want to know what ICE agents out in the field right now, what they consider to be a criminal, is that someone who has committed a crime, like robbed a store, or what about Narciso Barranco, the father of three Marines who was cutting bushes at an IHOP before they took him off the street?" she asked.
The 48-year-old Barranco, who was thrown to the ground and punched by immigration agents, was released from federal custody in July after being detained at his landscaping job and charged with assaulting a federal agent with a weed whacker. Ultimately Barranco, who has lived in the United States for over 30 years was charged with being in the country illegally and is awaiting a follow up hearing and pending appeal.
Brzezinski wanted specifics, grilling Homan even further.
"I want to know the data that you say you have about 70 percent of these people, show it to us," she pressed.
"You send me the specifics of that case, and I'll run down what the specifics of that case are," Homan replied. "You may not know all the facts on that case. I may not, I certainly don't. That's why I'm asking you."
Homan then pivoted to an earlier segment in which Massachusetts governor Maura Healey blasted ICE raids in her state.
After listing off a number of "criminal aliens" who were arrested by ICE along with their rap sheets, Homan said, "So [Boston] Mayor Wu and Governor Healey, they should all be calling ICE and thanking them for making their streets safer, to protecting their communities and taking these people off the street. They've turned a blind eye to this ... sanctuary cities and sanctuary states are sanctuaries for criminals."
"With respect, sir, thank you for the information that you have shared on this show, but we would appreciate all of the information, all of it, all of the data that you say you have," the host shot back.
Homan also appeared to take great issue with Brzezinski's use of the phrase "disappearing people."
"U.S. citizens get arrested by police every day," Homan said. "Are they being disappeared? No. Laws are being enforced. They're being arrested. They're being put in detention because they committed a criminal offense. . . That's not disappearing people. That's enforcing the laws of this country and making this country safer."
In a sarcastic tone, the Morning Joe host closed out, saying, "I thank you very much for explaining what ICE considers to be a danger and a criminal threat. . . We appreciate your sharing that reality with us and we would love the data."
Watch the video below or at this link.