This man plans to eliminate the drug cartels with his new border army of 16,000 soldiers, believing this will stop the flow of drugs and prevent terrorist acts. Normally, someone in his position would engage in conversations and agreements with the government in question—in this case, Mexico—before undertaking such a significant operation.

He should also remember that the horrific attacks on 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing did not originate from south of the border. He should recognize that there is no appetite for U.S. troops running through Mexico on their Mission Impossible.

We should remind this naïve talking head that the cartels are not going to line up like British Redcoats did centuries ago. They will not be easy targets.

Do these organizations have an immense amount of money—did I say a lot? I meant tons of it. They operate sophisticated networks that bribe and employ numerous individuals in the U.S., including customs officials, border guards, Homeland Security staff, and political operatives.

Cartels have developed highly lucrative methods for distributing drugs into the U.S.—into our schools, homes, prisons, and jails. Unless this czar addresses the issue at this level, he will accomplish nothing.

Many of us have lost family and friends to these drugs and desperately seek a way to stop it. It is heartbreaking to watch a loved one being destroyed by harsh substances and the lack of reliable treatment centers.

Meanwhile, Trump is already unhappy with his border czar because deportation numbers are not as high as he promised. Keep an eye on the numbers—deporting 12 million people over four years would require 3 million per year or roughly 800 per day. The Trump Administration has already rounded up the so-called «low-hanging fruit,» and it will only get harder to meet these quotas.

Does Homan believe that Black and Latino soldiers are eager to risk their lives for a president who despises them? Some Latino troops are now watching their own family and friends being deported.

This czar claims that 75% of the people detained are criminals. Those of us who have worked with immigrants and refugees know this is not true. In fact, it is an outright lie. I would love to see a media outlet or a member of Congress obtain the actual data and expose this deception.

This campaign against immigrants and their supporters is built on a series of lies, repeated over and over. They continue to demonize a hardworking and peaceful population. Now, Homan is targeting sanctuary cities, many of which are in blue states. However, even in red states, there are countless citizens with strong personal and professional ties to immigrant communities.

Over the years, those involved in the billion-dollar drug trade have not only targeted their direct enemies but also their families—just as the radical right-wing has done in this country. What would happen if the czar’s family or that of a military platoon commander became a target? Those planning an attack on Homan’s network will not have visible tattoos or be dressed like gang members. They will likely appear as professionals—wearing suits, and carrying briefcases. They will include women, teenagers, and people from all backgrounds, including white Americans.

There have been cases of entire families being massacred. While in El Salvador, I met two families of hardened gang members who had been visited by cartel operatives. They were weeping, terrified—the cartels had threatened to kill everyone in their homes, which in one case meant six individuals spanning three generations. By some luck, we managed to get the cartel back off. To be clear, I never met the cartel members—I didn’t want to know their faces. Often, the police and military are complicit in this vicious cycle of violence.

Mexico offers countless soft targets for retaliation—American businesspeople, the 1.6 million expats living there, thousands of tourists spending money at luxury resorts, embassy employees, and government informants. I have been told that people are still being targeted and killed, often for shockingly small sums of money.

I am not an expert on these matters, but I have lived in two countries experiencing revolutionary upheaval. I have witnessed how easily innocent people can be murdered. I have also seen violent actions unfold on our streets and within our prison-industrial complex.

My best advice to this bizarre czar? Be careful what you say and do. And try not to become a media star—because that will only put more people in danger.