President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday evening two new picks to help carry out his planned crackdown on illegal immigration and secure the border.
Trump said Rodney Scott would be the Customs and Border Protection commissioner, and Caleb Vitello would be the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He previously announced that former acting ICE Director Tom Homan would be his “border czar” and oversee mass deportation operations.
Scott, who has almost three decades of experience with Border Patrol, would be back in the same position he held during Trump’s first term. Under Trump, Scott implemented policies like Remain-in-Mexico, where asylum seekers would have to stop in the first available country, and Title 42, a measure to turn back illegal immigrants due to concerns about COVID.
“As the Chief, he led over 22,000 personnel, and was responsible for securing the International Borders of the U.S. between the official ports of entry,” Trump posted. “After retiring, Rodney has continued to educate politicians and the public about the importance of meaningful Border Security.”
Scott left the position during the Biden administration and later endorsed Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.
“President Trump respected the experience of career border security professionals and listened to our advice,” Scott wrote in an October letter. “When border security experts explained to President Trump how illegal immigration empowers the cartels to control who and what enters our home, he listened and acted.”
In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said that Vitello would serve as the acting director of ICE. As ICE’s assistant director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, Vitello currently assists with training, equipment, safety, and policy. Previously, he was the chief of staff for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, supervising all daily operations and communications.
“Caleb’s exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and commitment to ICE’s mission make him an excellent choice to implement my efforts to enhance the safety and security of American communities who have been victimized by illegal alien crime,” Trump posted
Trump has vowed to secure the border and enact the largest deportation operation in American history, starting with those illegal immigrants with violent criminal histories who have entered the country unlawfully.
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