Story highlights "It needed to be said," Homan told CNN

Homan also disputed the idea that ICE was responsible for fear in immigrant communities

Miami (CNN) President Donald Trump's immigration enforcer doubled down Friday on recent comments that undocumented immigrants "should be afraid" under the Trump administration.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan said in an interview that he has "zero regrets" about his remarks before Congress this week, expanding on them.

"It needed to be said," Homan told CNN on the sidelines of a Central American prosperity and security conference.

"And by me saying you should be worried, you should be afraid -- if you lie on your taxes, you've got to be worried, 'Is the IRS going to audit me?' ... When you speed down the highway, you've got to worry, 'Am I going to get a speeding ticket?' You worry. It's natural human behavior."

Homan's similar words in Congress at a House appropriations subcommittee Tuesday sparked outrage from Democrats and immigration advocates, who have decried what they call fear-mongering in communities. Local law enforcement and officials have complained that the Trump administration's enforcement activities have harmed immigrant communities, making people afraid to go to school, seek medical attention and report crimes for fear of being deported.

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