The relationship between former immigration enforcement head Tom Homan and private contractors seeking lucrative government contracts raises significant ethical concerns. Charles Sowell, a Pennsylvania consultant, first connected with Homan in 2021 through LinkedIn, seeking advice about contracting work related to border security. Homan, who had just completed a tenure as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), found common ground with Sowell in their shared critiques of President Biden’s border policies.
Fast forward to 2023, and their professional relationship had blossomed into a financial partnership. Sowell began paying Homan as a consultant at his boutique firm, SE&M Solutions, which charged companies seeking federal contracts up to $20,000 a month for guidance. By 2024, Sowell had ascended to the chair of Homan’s foundation, Border911, which advocates for stricter border security measures.
As Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign, he promised to appoint Homan as the overseer of his proposed mass deportation initiative, a plan that could involve billions of dollars in contracts for private firms. During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump declared, “Put him in charge, and just sit back and watch,” signaling his intent for Homan to lead an unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration.
After Trump secured the nomination, Sowell continued to compensate Homan until the end of the year. Once Homan was designated as border czar, he stated his intention to recuse himself from any contracting discussions, asserting he would have no involvement in future government contracts.
However, various industry executives confided to ProPublica that numerous companies vying for a share of the $45 billion allocated by Congress for immigration detention services engaged Sowell under the impression that his ties to Homan would bolster their chances of securing contracts. Homan’s professional dealings have come under increased scrutiny following reports of an FBI sting operation that allegedly caught him accepting $50,000 in cash from undercover agents posing as contractors before taking office as border czar.
Ethics experts express concern that Homan’s relationship with Sowell could undermine the integrity of the contracting process for immigration enforcement. Recently, Sowell and Homan’s senior advisor, Mark Hall, visited one of Sowell’s clients, looking to capitalize on Trump’s proposal to establish temporary immigrant detention camps on military bases. Records indicate that Hall had been compensated by Sowell’s firm earlier this year. Additionally, internal communications obtained by ProPublica revealed that Homan had engaged in discussions with industry leaders about government contracting plans during the summer, raising doubts about the extent of his recusal.
Government officials in Homan’s position are mandated to avoid any activities that could affect their former business associates for one year after entering government service. Engaging in discussions about immigration-related contracts would constitute a “clear-cut violation” of federal ethics regulations, according to Don Fox, former general counsel for the Office of Government Ethics. He emphasized, “You shouldn’t be in those briefings. You are either recused or you are not.”
While it is standard for companies pursuing federal contracts to enlist former government officials for expertise, these relationships must adhere to strict ethics guidelines designed to prevent conflicts of interest. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House did not provide copies of Homan’s formal recusal documents, which would detail the activities he was advised to avoid.
Neither Homan nor Hall responded to requests for comment; however, Sowell claimed that he and Homan no longer maintain a financial relationship. A White House spokesperson asserted that Homan had “no involvement in the actual awarding of a government contract” and that his role as border czar involved meeting with various individuals to understand new developments relevant to serving the American public’s needs.
Experts like Kathleen Clark, a law professor specializing in government ethics, stress that the implications of perceived corruption extend beyond tainted contracts. “If the industry believes the system is corrupt, then the public is harmed. And the damage has already been done,” she explained.
Homan’s career spans over three decades in public service, culminating in his role as acting director of ICE during Trump’s initial term. His criticisms of Biden’s border policies and the establishment of Border911 coincided with an impressive financial transformation following his exit from public office. In 2017, Homan reported assets totaling a maximum of $250,000, which has now ballooned to an estimated $3 million to $9 million, as disclosed in subsequent financial reports.
His shift into the private sector saw him become a prominent figure in conservative media, frequently appearing on Fox News and drawing attention to the surge in border crossings under Biden’s administration. Homan has advocated for the military’s involvement in addressing the border crisis and suggested extensive contracting with private firms for deportation efforts.
As Trump made clear his intentions to reinstate Homan as border czar, Sowell began reaching out to government contracting experts, indicating he was collaborating with Homan’s Border911 Foundation to streamline procurement for the anticipated mass deportation policies. Sowell indicated he was assembling a coalition of companies poised for lucrative contracts to build detention facilities for Trump’s administration.
In a previous interview, Sowell acknowledged that when his clients sought insights into the Department of Homeland Security, he would invite Homan to provide his perspective as a former senior ICE leader. Homan’s financial relationship with Sowell is documented in his federally mandated financial disclosures, which indicate he received payments exceeding $5,000 from Sowell’s firm between 2023 and early 2025.
As Sowell continues to navigate a complicated and lucrative contracting landscape, the Trump administration has initiated plans to construct expansive detention camps on military bases, pledging to arrest 3,000 immigrants daily and double the number of available detention beds. The administration is employing a unique funding method through military contracts known as the Worldwide Expeditionary Multiple Award Contract (WEXMAC). Homan has reportedly engaged in discussions with industry representatives about these plans.
In light of the FBI sting operation and ongoing investigations into Homan’s past dealings, the scrutiny surrounding his connections to private contractors is likely to intensify. While federal officials assert no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged, the implications of these relationships raise crucial questions about ethics and transparency in government contracting processes.
