Border Czar Backs Rochester Police Amid Immigration Stop Controversy

U.S. Border Czar Thomas Homan has voiced his support for Rochester police officers who assisted Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop last Monday. His statement comes amid criticism from city officials and community leaders, who argue that the officers' actions violated Rochester’s sanctuary policy.

RPD Officers were captured on video assisting border control during a traffic stop March 25, 2025

On March 25, 2025, Rochester Police Department (RPD) officers were captured on video aiding Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop involving a van with eight occupants. Officers were seen removing individuals from the vehicle and placing them in handcuffs—actions that Mayor Malik Evans and Police Chief David Smith say went beyond their jurisdiction.

“I stand with the officers of the Rochester Police Department who responded to an emergency assistance call from U.S. Border Patrol,” Homan stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Law enforcement officers should not be abandoned because of politics. Sanctuary policies endanger both our police and the public.”

However, Police Chief Smith emphasized that RPD officers are not to enforce immigration law. “Our officers are not to be handcuffing or detaining individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities,” he said in a press conference.

Rochester has been a sanctuary city since 1986, a policy that prohibits local police from assisting in federal immigration enforcement. City officials have since launched an internal investigation and pledged additional training for the officers involved.

The incident has sparked political controversy, particularly in the lead-up to the mayoral race. City Councilmember Mary Lupien, a declared candidate, condemned the officers’ actions and criticized Homan’s involvement.

“I’ve seen the video, and it’s disturbing,” Lupien said. “The Trump administration sent its border czar to Rochester today to support police officers who violated our sanctuary policy.”

Councilmember Stanley Martin took an even stronger stance, calling for the officers’ dismissal. “Those officers need to be fired to send a clear message: if you’re an immigrant, you are safe here in Rochester,” Martin stated. “At a time when the Trump administration is detaining people across the country, Rochester must stand firm in defending its immigrant community.”

Homan met with the Rochester Police Locust Club, the city’s police union, pledging continued support. The union defended the officers’ actions, stating they acted in good faith to assist federal partners in a safety-sensitive situation.

State Republican leaders have echoed Homan’s criticism of city officials. Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt denounced the city’s response as “abhorrent” and warned that it set a “dangerous precedent.”

As the investigation continues, the debate over sanctuary policies and local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue in Rochester.