WASHINGTON — Border Czar Tom Homan weighed in on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's allegations that the ICE shooting victim was engaged in "domestic terrorism," saying in an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that "if you look up this definition of terrorism, it certainly could fall within that definition."
Shortly after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good last week, Noem painted Good's actions as "an act of domestic terrorism," though she did not provide evidence.
Asked on "Meet the Press" whether Noem was correct to label Good a domestic terrorist, Homan said, "I don't know what Secretary Noem knows and what I know."
"I can tell you, is what they did is illegal," he continued. "And if you look up this definition of terrorism, it certainly could fall within that definition."
Several White House officials, including President Donald Trump and Noem, claimed that Good was trying to run over an officer, but those allegations were thrown into question byvideos and eyewitnesses.
Pressed further on whether the administration had evidence to support Noem's claims, Homan reiterated that "I don't know what secretary has that I don't."
"I'm not going to judge what the secretary says, but if you look up the definition of terrorism, it certainly can fall within that," he said.
The FBIdefinesdomestic terrorism as "violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature."
After the shooting,witnesses told NBC Newsthat the ICE officer did not appear to be in the car's direct path and that Good appeared to be trying to move away from the agents. Trump claimed that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Video, though, shows that Good's car did not knock down the officer, who was able to walk away from the scene without assistance.
Vice PresidentJD Vanceclaimed that Good "tried to ram somebody with her car," though that assessment was disputed by witnesses. Good's death, Vance said, was "a tragedy of her own making."
Homan was also pressed during the interview as to whether the administration considered anyone who protests ICE a domestic terrorist.
"I can't say that," Homan said. "You know, it's a case by case basis, but you know, if you look up the definition of terrorism, is there violence? Is there a threat of violence based on an ideology that wants to change the way the government does what we do?"
