“Border czar” Tom Homan has warned that President Donald Trump will not hesitate to deploy the U.S. military against Mexican cartels if they target American troops stationed along the southern border.

“I think the cartels would be foolish to take on the military, but we know they’ve taken on the Mexican military before. Now, we have the United States military,” Homan told ABC News Live on Thursday.

Homan expects an increase in violence, as cartels are raking in record profits from smuggling operations and illegal activities.

“Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely, because the cartels are making record amounts of money,” he said. “We’re taking money out of their pocket.”

He emphasized that U.S. troops must protect themselves, warning that if American soldiers are harmed, the Trump administration will retaliate with overwhelming force.

“The wrath of President Trump’s going to come down,” Homan stated. “He has the ability to wipe them off the face of the Earth.”

Upon returning to office, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, authorizing the Department of Defense to deploy armed forces to the region.

Additionally, he signed an executive order designating drug cartels and criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations or specifically designated global terrorists.

As part of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up nationwide raids targeting undocumented migrants for deportation.

The administration maintains that its primary focus is on violent criminals.

“About three-quarters—76%—of the 14,000 migrants who have been arrested so far are criminals,” Homan said.

With military forces at the border, an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, and heightened cartel tensions, the situation in the region remains volatile, as Trump’s administration signals a no-tolerance approach to border security and cartel violence.