EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, held a conference at the University of Texas at El Paso on Thursday.

Homan spoke and took questions at the Undergraduate Learning Center, room 106.

The event is hosted by Turning Point USA.

About 500 people attended the event.

Tom Homan said, “I don’t give a s*** what people think of me.” He said he is doing his job in protecting the country.

“Criminal cartels are animals. Secure borders save lives,” said Homan. He said he wants to stop kids from getting raped by cartel members.

“I don’t want anyone to die, that includes officers and aliens,” said Homan.

There were also several heated outbursts that interrupted his remarks.

The border czar, who was the star guest, eventually opened the floor to students and attendees for questions.

Some attendees asked about ICE enforcement, racial profiling, and holding agents accountable during raids.

“If you want to come to the greatest nation in the world comes through a port of entry,” said Homan.

Dozens of protesters gathered at Leech Grove on the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) campus to voice their opposition to Tom Homan's visit. Many El Paso residents expressed their disapproval of Homan, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing his association with policies they believe are harmful to immigrant communities.

Emil Esparza, one of the protesters, said, "I do not like the guy, I do not like the administration he comes from." He described Homan's visit to UTEP as "an extreme overreach" and "very insulting."

Irma Camacho from El Chuco Habla criticized Homan for authorizing tactics perceived as violent towards immigrants. "He is the one who has authorized the type of tactics we see not only here in El Paso but also across the nation," she said.

Turning Point USA provided the following statement:

We the students, in representation of the UTEP chapter of Turning Point USA, hope to bring back the concept of open dialogue and respect between parties of differing opinions. We hope that, in Tom Homan’s presence, we can pay homage to the hardworking individuals who sought out greatness for themselves and their families, and have participated in the legal immigration process, bringing great honor to their legacies to come. Mr. Homan expressed interest in visiting El Paso, as the city is notably known for its border location. As a city that has built its foundation upon that of immigrant families, Mr. Homan stresses the importance of legal procedure and how a lack thereof can greatly damage a city’s economic, social, and infrastructural statuses. As students who have maintained a non-inflammatory approach, we are disappointed to see that the city has chosen to base their opinions off of stereotypes and assumptions, rather than to see our humanity as so many folks ask conservatives to do for them. We will continue with our mission, aiming to challenge students to think for themselves, research, dig deep, and thrive in community that reflects what El Paso so deeply cherishes: faith, family, and freedom.

In a statement emailed to KFOX14/CBS4, UTEP said, "There are over 360 registered student organizations at UTEP. Registered student organizations are able to host speakers and other events on campus. The student chapter of Turning Point USA at UTEP will be hosting an event on campus in accordance with UTEP policies and procedures.”

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