In a blistering escalation of the immigration crisis gripping the Southwest, former ICE Director and now Trump-appointed Border Czar, Tom Homan, has ignited political fire with a bold, unprecedented threat: arrest Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs if she obstructs mass deportations of illegal migrants.

During a fiery appearance on “America First News” this morning, Homan did not hold back.

“If Governor Hobbs stands between ICE and the law, we will go through her. Period,” Homan declared. “Shielding illegal aliens is not compassion—it’s criminal obstruction. She is not above the law, and if she continues this path, she could find herself in federal custody.”

The warning comes just as deportation operations across the southern border have seen a sharp uptick. According to internal ICE documents leaked to NBC News, deportations surged by 29% in April 2025, with over 17,200 people removed. While the number falls short of the Obama-era high of 430,000 in 2013, Trump’s newly emboldened task force has promised millions more—and Homan is the man leading that charge.

Hobbs Under Fire

Governor Hobbs, a Democrat, has not formally responded to Homan’s remarks, but insiders say her office is preparing a legal challenge to block federal deportation efforts in areas where Arizona law enforcement may be expected to cooperate.

Last week, Hobbs reportedly held a closed-door meeting with several mayors and police chiefs across southern Arizona. One leaked memo, circulated on X (formerly Twitter), outlined “potential humanitarian risks” and “state-level noncompliance” options if federal sweeps begin targeting migrant-heavy communities.

The leak has only added fuel to the fire, with Homan and pro-Trump surrogates calling it “an open admission of rebellion against federal law.”

“When a governor starts telling local law enforcement to turn a blind eye to immigration enforcement, she becomes a national security risk,” Homan said. “Let me be clear: we will act.”

A Brewing Constitutional Showdown?

Legal scholars are already weighing in—and the reaction is starkly divided.

“This is a textbook federal-state conflict,” said Professor Alan Kent of Georgetown Law. “If Hobbs defies federal orders, Homan would need DOJ backing to arrest a sitting governor. But politically, it’s explosive. Constitutionally? Uncharted waters.”

Conservative legal voices, however, argue Hobbs is treading dangerously close to harboring or even aiding undocumented migrants, crimes that could carry federal consequences.

“If she’s instructing state agencies to obstruct ICE, then she may be in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1324,” said conservative attorney Brent McAllister. “That’s not a policy disagreement—that’s a felony.”

Democrats Sound the Alarm

Top Democrats immediately condemned Homan’s remarks as authoritarian and dangerous.

“This is Trump’s deportation czar threatening an elected official,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX). “If Republicans are now calling for the arrest of governors who disagree with them, we’ve crossed a line into something very dark.”

Progressives rallied around Hobbs on social media, turning the hashtag #WeStandWithKatie into a trending topic within hours of Homan’s broadcast.

But not all Democrats are fully supportive behind the scenes. One anonymous Senate staffer told Politico:

“Privately, some of us are concerned Hobbs might be pushing a confrontation we’re not ready for. If this turns into a standoff, and it backfires politically… we lose Arizona in 2026.”

The Kari Lake Connection

Adding another twist to the saga, Hobbs’ former gubernatorial rival, Kari Lake, resurfaced to pour gasoline on the fire.

“Katie Hobbs wants Arizona to be a sanctuary for lawbreakers,” Lake tweeted. “She’s not just incompetent—she’s dangerous. If she gets in the way of Trump’s mission to restore order, she should be treated like anyone else: in handcuffs.”

Lake’s remarks echoed earlier unverified claims from December 2024 that Hobbs was secretly coordinating with migrant aid groups to block deportations—claims that were never substantiated but are now back in the spotlight.

Is an Arrest Really Possible?

Realistically, the likelihood of Homan personally having Hobbs arrested without DOJ involvement is slim. However, with Trump in the White House, and a newly hardened DHS under his control, nothing seems off-limits.

Political analysts warn that even if no arrest takes place, the optics of the threat alone serve Trump’s hardline image—and keep his base energized.

“This is classic Trump-era theater,” said CNN contributor Maria Cortez. “It’s aggressive, it’s polarizing, and it sucks all the oxygen out of the room. Love it or hate it, it works.”

Conclusion: A Line in the Sand

Tom Homan’s fiery ultimatum has set the stage for what could become a major legal and political confrontation. Whether it ends in court, in Congress, or in handcuffs, one thing is certain: the 2025 immigration war is no longer just about policy. It’s personal—and it’s escalating fast.