Top Immigration Enforcement Official Reassigned Amid Concerns Over Deportation Pace
Caleb Vitello reassigned as the Trump administration seeks to accelerate mass deportation efforts.
Washington – The official responsible for overseeing the mass deportation agenda of President Donald Trump has been reassigned in light of growing frustrations regarding the current pace of deportations.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, announced that Caleb Vitello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will now oversee all field and enforcement operations which focus on locating, arresting, and deporting individuals residing in the country illegally.
This administrative change occurs shortly after the onset of the new administration, highlighting the priority immigration enforcement holds for the Trump administration.
White House officials have voiced dissatisfaction with the deportation velocity and have set expectations for a heightened response.
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit is the primary agency mandated to implement the president’s commitment to mass deportations during his second term.
Recent statements from Tom Homan, designated as the White House's border czar, indicated that arrests of individuals within the United States have reached approximately three times the levels recorded during the same timeframe under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.
However, Homan emphasized that this increase remains insufficient, stating, "I’m not satisfied.
We got to get more."
Homan has raised concerns about the number of individuals released from immigration custody, indicating that future releases would require explicit approval from ICE leadership.
Homan described the prior release numbers as "unacceptable" and asserted that measures have been taken to rectify the situation.
The reassignment of Vitello follows discussions regarding the operational efficacy of ICE.
Vitello has been with the agency for over twenty years, previously holding the role of assistant director for firearms and tactical programs, and has various experiences at the National Security Council.
Furthermore, the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed leader for several years, an ongoing issue that has raised concerns about governance within ICE.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, announced that Caleb Vitello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will now oversee all field and enforcement operations which focus on locating, arresting, and deporting individuals residing in the country illegally.
This administrative change occurs shortly after the onset of the new administration, highlighting the priority immigration enforcement holds for the Trump administration.
White House officials have voiced dissatisfaction with the deportation velocity and have set expectations for a heightened response.
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit is the primary agency mandated to implement the president’s commitment to mass deportations during his second term.
Recent statements from Tom Homan, designated as the White House's border czar, indicated that arrests of individuals within the United States have reached approximately three times the levels recorded during the same timeframe under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.
However, Homan emphasized that this increase remains insufficient, stating, "I’m not satisfied.
We got to get more."
Homan has raised concerns about the number of individuals released from immigration custody, indicating that future releases would require explicit approval from ICE leadership.
Homan described the prior release numbers as "unacceptable" and asserted that measures have been taken to rectify the situation.
The reassignment of Vitello follows discussions regarding the operational efficacy of ICE.
Vitello has been with the agency for over twenty years, previously holding the role of assistant director for firearms and tactical programs, and has various experiences at the National Security Council.
Furthermore, the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed leader for several years, an ongoing issue that has raised concerns about governance within ICE.
