JAN. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No. 1

HOW THE POSITION MIGHT

HOW THE POSITION MIGHT WORKMeissner recalls working with Homan inthe 1990s, when they both served at theU.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Meissner served as commissioner of thedepartment that oversaw the immigrationprocess, enforcement and border patrolprior to the creation of the Department ofHomeland Security. At the time, Homan wasa Border Patrol agent and investigator.“He’s a very experienced operative. Heknows how to get things done,” Meissnersaid. “But all of that experience has beenin settings where he’s actually been able tomake decisions that affect where resourcesare used and affect the policies and operationsof law enforcement officials. Thatis not a border staff person in the WhiteHouse.”Homan’s role as “border czar” may includebeing a spokesperson on behalf of theadministration on issues related to immigrationand the southern and northern U.S.borders, Meissner said. But he would haveto work with others across several cabinetagencies to see through policy changes.The lack of institutional history and trackrecord of the role can be both a benefit anda challenge.“The challenges do come with the degreeto which he, as border czar, has the fullconfidence of the president and is actuallyable to carry the day with the strategythat he recommends and the advice that hegives. And that remains to be seen,” Meissnersaid.INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSEPresidents of both parties have sometimesrelied on appointing “czars” to quick-ly coordinate policy without needing Senateconfirmation. Homan would not be thefirst to hold the title or nickname of borderczar, though former agency officials saidhe is the first to work directly in the White88 The BLUES - JANUARY ‘25

House and under direction of the president.Roberta Jacobson, who served as coordinatorfor the southwest border duringthe first year of the Biden administration,was often called the “border czar” whileshe served on the National Security Council,though that was not her official WhiteHouse title.Republicans also sought to attack VicePresident Harris as a failed ‘border czar’The BLUES -- JANUARY ‘25 89