Tom Homan Promises Action as California Plans Early Release of Undocumented Immigrant Who Killed Two Teens

California's decision to release Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, an undocumented immigrant convicted of killing two teenagers in a drunk driving crash, has unleashed a wave of outrage from victims' families and immigration officials alike.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is set to release Ortega-Anguiano more than six years before his sentence was due to end. He was sentenced in 2022 to ten years in prison after being convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the deaths of 19-year-olds Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin. Ortega-Anguiano had been driving at high speed while drunk in 2021, causing a fiery crash that claimed both teens' lives.

Former Trump border czar Tom Homan is now vowing to intervene. Homan stated, "I will work with Homeland Security Secretary Noem on this case, and I guarantee you, if they don’t honor the detainer, we’ll have ICE agents outside that facility to take custody of this individual and deport him."

Ortega-Anguiano is no stranger to law enforcement. According to ICE, his criminal record includes burglary, vehicle theft, battery with kidnapping, and multiple illegal re-entries into the United States. Homan pointed out, "He's been deported several times, which means he's a felon. Re-entry to the country, deported. Deportation is a felony. We will prosecute him, and we will deport him."

Despite an ICE detainer requesting custody of Ortega-Anguiano after his release, California's sanctuary state policies leave it uncertain whether local officials will comply. The victims' families, meanwhile, are fighting back: they've written letters demanding Ortega-Anguiano remain behind bars and voiced fears he could re-enter the country illegally even after deportation.

Homan, well-known for his tough stance on immigration, explained his deep emotional investment: "Everybody asks why I get so emotional on network TV, why I get emotional when I testify. I've met hundreds of angel moms and dads and hear every story. I'll never forget any of those stories. It's just a tragedy."

This controversy comes as Homan remains a central figure in legal battles over President Trump's immigration policies. The administration is grappling with court challenges, including over plans to end birthright citizenship and expand deportations. In May, the Supreme Court is slated to hear a case involving federal judges who blocked Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

Homan also voiced criticism of recent court rulings, such as one by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who temporarily blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador. Still, Homan is undeterred, asserting, "District court judges can't overrule the president's executive orders. This is what we got to fix right away in the Supreme Court so we can actually keep the president’s promise to the American people that we're going to remove national security threats."

The battle lines are drawn, and the debate over immigration, public safety, and the power of local versus federal authorities is only heating up.