Border Czar Slams DC Mayor for Criticizing Masked ICE Agents: 'If She Had an Ounce of Integrity, She'd Be Thanking President Trump'

White House border czar Tom Homan pushed back on Thursday against Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser after she criticized the use of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city.

Bowser said the practice has undermined community trust, while Homan has argued that it is essential for protecting officers and their families.

"They're extremely effective," Homan told the Washington Examiner at the White House, adding that Bowser's position "must be based on her skewed opinion."

He then added:

"They're doing a great job. D.C is much safer today. If she had an ounce of integrity, she'd be thanking President Trump for making D.C. safer."

Homan acknowledged that he does not "particularly like masks" but said ICE agents need them because of safety concerns:

"Their families are being doxed, their children are being doxed, their families have been put in harm's way. But no one's asked the question, why didn't they get all these legislators out there [who] want to pass laws that prevent ICE wearing masks? Meanwhile, I don't see any legislation [about] antifa unmasking or people [who] do these violent counter protests"

Speaking Wednesday at a press conference, Bowser credited Trump's "surge" of federal law enforcement officers with helping reduce carjackings by 87% over a 20-day period. However, she singled out two practices she said have not been effective: "We know having masked ICE agents in the community has not worked, and National Guards from other states has not been an efficient use of those resources."

It wasn't the first time the mayor had expressed her criticism of masks. Last week she told DC's 7News that she sees no justification for masks:

"No one should be wearing masks," she stated. "Our officers are identified. They have a badge. They wear body-worn cameras and they are clearly identified to members of the public." She then added that federal officers "should be doing their jobs in a way that's lawful and constitutional."

Also on Thursday, Homan suggested that discussions are underway about expanding ICE operations in sanctuary cities:

"You're going to see a ramp up of operations in New York. You're going to see a ramp up of operations continue in LA. Portland, Seattle, I mean, all these sanctuary cities that refuse to work with ICE where we know public safety threats are being released every day into this country"