A former colleague publicly accused border czar Tom Homan of staying away from dangerous immigration enforcement operations, a damaging charge for an official who built his reputation on toughness.

• Homan is described as personally hard-line on illegal immigration, known for carrying a pistol in an ankle holster.
• Someone who worked alongside him says he and other leaders were never present during violent enforcement operations in the field.
• The complaint is about leadership, not policy: leaders should be on the front lines with the agents taking the risk.
• The same source says there was no contact at all from Homan's level — no calls, no conversations.

Outlook: Expect more friction between rank-and-file immigration agents and the leadership running the crackdown.