On Friday afternoon, Tom Homan, the incoming border chief for President-elect Donald Trump, shared with NBC News that he’s suggesting a new initiative: a hotline for Americans to notify authorities about immigrants they suspect are living in the country illegally and engaging in criminal activity.

“I want to create a platform where American citizens can make reports,” stated Homan, who previously led Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Our priority is to protect the American populace. We need to provide them with a way to report issues like child trafficking and forced labor. This allows them to contribute to the solution.”

However, ICE has already operated a tip line for over 20 years, receiving approximately 15,000 calls monthly. The agency welcomes reports on illegal immigration, as well as other illegal activities such as drug trafficking and document forgery.

“This line is designed for reporting various crimes, including child exploitation, COVID-19 fraud, illegal immigration, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, and enforcement of immigration laws at workplaces,” explained Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute.

“It’s already in place,” Nowrasteh noted. “I’m unsure what Homan’s fresh idea entails.”

Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection directs individuals to the ICE tip line for reporting suspected criminal behavior.

The transition team for Trump did not respond to a request for clarification on how Homan’s hotline proposal would differ from the existing one. Attempts to contact Homan through his charitable organization were also unsuccessful.

Nowrasteh expressed skepticism about the impact of the tip line on immigration enforcement.

“Most likely, it doesn’t significantly aid immigration enforcement. It probably consumes the time of a few ICE staff who need to sift through the 15,000 calls each month. This may yield a tip occasionally,” he commented. “I have yet to hear of any substantial operation that initiated from a call to the ICE hotline. That doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t happened, but there’s no record of it.”

‘The Party’s Over’

Some critics of immigration believe that a dedicated hotline for reporting illegal immigration could help raise public consciousness.

“It could be beneficial and is worth considering,” remarked Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports reduced immigration levels. “A crucial part of this initiative is to notify undocumented immigrants that they are not exempt from scrutiny, and that their time is up. It’s also important to communicate to the public that simply being present, even if not engaging in violent acts, doesn’t ensure that they’re above the law. It’s significant to make that point, even if only a few actionable leads arise.”

Like past administrations, Trump plans to prioritize the removal of undocumented immigrants who have criminal records. Studies typically show that immigrants are less likely than native-born citizens to commit crimes.

Homan’s role as border chief will involve overseeing the deportation of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally. His position does not involve existing immigration enforcement agencies, and the parameters of his authority are still unclear. Homan will not require Senate confirmation for his role.

‘Turning Neighbors Against Each Other’

Jennie Murray, the CEO of the National Immigration Forum, expressed concern that pursuing tips may drain precious resources that are already limited.

“We certainly don’t have limitless resources for law enforcement. It’s crucial that authorities focus on violent offenders instead of pursuing vague leads that may divert them in many directions, or send them door-to-door in search of undocumented immigrants,” noted Murray, whose organization promotes a moderate approach to immigration reform.

According to ICE’s latest annual report, the agency deported over 270,000 noncitizens in fiscal year 2024, the highest total seen in a decade.

With a $9 billion yearly budget, ICE has 6,050 personnel dedicated to deportation, managing a caseload of 7.6 million immigrants. The number of deportation officers has remained steady since 2014, while their caseload has increased dramatically.

Advocates for immigrant rights argue that the introduction of a new hotline is intended to empower individuals who are uncomfortable with immigration.

“Ultimately, he’s implying that he wants ordinary Americans to turn against their neighbors,” said Anabel Mendoza, spokeswoman for the immigrant rights group United We Dream. “He encourages them to profile those around them and take action against those they believe don’t belong.”

Tom Wong, director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California-San Diego, compared Homan’s suggestion to the Minutemen militia groups that historically patrolled the southern border to assist Border Patrol agents.

“A hotline like this will foster animosity between citizens and immigrants, encourage vigilante groups, and facilitate racial profiling and heightened discrimination. Undocumented communities will likely retreat even further into the shadows as citizens become part of the enforcement process,” Wong warned.

YSL News reporter Lauren Villagran contributed