President Trump’s administration removes ICE Acting Head amid deportation concerns, signaling a shift in immigration enforcement strategy.
At a Glance
- Caleb Vitello reassigned from ICE leadership due to slow deportation progress
- Trump administration aims for 1,200-1,400 daily arrests, but falls short
- ICE arrests increased by 137% under Trump compared to previous year
- Border crossings reportedly decreased by 95%
- Tom Homan appointed as White House Border Czar to oversee operations
Trump Administration Reshuffles ICE Leadership
The Trump administration has taken decisive action in its immigration enforcement efforts by removing Caleb Vitello from his position as the Acting Head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move comes as a response to growing concerns over the pace of deportations and arrests of illegal immigrants, despite a significant increase in enforcement actions.
While Vitello has been reassigned, he continues to play a crucial role in ICE operations. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated, “Caleb Vitello, Acting Director of ICE, is no longer in an Administrator role. He is, however, overseeing all field and enforcement operations: finding, arresting, and deporting illegal aliens, which is a major priority of President Trump and Secretary Noem.”
— Federation for American Immigration Reform (@FAIRImmigration) November 12, 2024
Ambitious Targets and Increased Enforcement
The administration’s targets for immigration enforcement are ambitious, with ICE agents instructed to arrest between 1,200 to 1,400 individuals daily. However, the agency has struggled to meet these lofty goals. In Trump’s first month, 38,000 people were deported, compared to 57,000 per month under the Obama administration.
“I’m not satisfied, we got to get more,” Tom Homan, the newly appointed White House Border Czar, said.
Despite falling short of the administration’s expectations, ICE has reported significant increases in enforcement actions. There were 11,791 interior arrests reported from January 20 to February 8, compared to 4,969 in the same period in 2024. This represents a substantial 137% increase in interior arrests under the Trump administration.
Strategic Changes and Policy Shifts
The Department of Homeland Security has implemented several changes to enhance ICE operations. These include ending Biden-era arrest location limits and utilizing federal prisons for housing illegal immigrants. The administration has also terminated Biden-era parole policies and extensions of Temporary Protected Status for certain nationalities.
Stephen Miller, a key figure in shaping the administration’s immigration policy, emphasized the use of “every element and instrument of national power” in pursuit of the administration’s deportation goals.
While the administration faces challenges in meeting its deportation targets, there have been notable achievements in other areas of immigration enforcement. Border crossings have reportedly decreased by 95%. The daily average number of illegal migrants entering the U.S. without apprehension at the southern border has decreased by 93% since February.
