President-elect Donald Trump has chosen individuals to head Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who are aligned with hard-line immigration policies aimed at tougher enforcement measures.
The big picture: Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief with a history of vocal support for stricter enforcement steps, has been selected as the commissioner of CBP.
- Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with over 23 years of experience in the agency, has been appointed as the acting director of ICE.
Go deeper: The immigration leadership team includes South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security, former acting ICE head Tom Homan as border czar, and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff.
- As head of CBP, Scott is expected to execute administration policies, given his background in the Border Patrol where he enforced similar measures in San Diego, a once-busy corridor for illegal crossings.
What we’re watching: If Trump follows through on promises to increase tariffs on countries like Mexico, China, and Canada, CBP will play an essential role in enforcing these tariffs.
Driving the news: After leaving under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda, advocating for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.
- Vitello, the acting director of ICE, brings extensive experience in the agency’s enforcement operations, which will be crucial as ICE attempts to ramp up efforts to find and remove people in the country illegally.
- Vitello’s background in the National Security Council and ICE positions related to enforcement operations is highlighted as essential for the challenges related to the limited number of enforcement and removal officers, and difficulties deporting individuals to countries such as Venezuela or Cuba.
