Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Caleb Vitello is moving to a new post, as the White House continues its push to speed up arrests and deportations.
Caleb Vitello’s Background
Before being tapped to lead the agency, Vitello was the assistant director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs in ICE and worked closely with top Trump administration officials during the first term.
New Responsibilities
He will now oversee “all field and enforcement operations: finding, arresting, and deporting illegal aliens,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, adding that it’s a “major priority” for President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The department has not yet named his replacement.
Challenges in Arrests and Deportations
But the latest shake-up comes as top administration officials remain frustrated with the pace of arrests and deportation numbers. ICE arrests increased during Trump’s first weeks in office, but the pace has since slowed — and arrests do not always equal deportations.
Trump’s vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants was his top campaign promise, but his administration continues to face a slew of challenges to operationalize the ambitious undertaking that will take funding, time, and additional resources to scale up.
Recent Changes in ICE Leadership
Vitello’s reassignment comes less than two weeks after two other top ICE officials were removed from their positions. Russell Hott and Peter Berg, who held top positions in the enforcement division of ICE, were returned, respectively, to the agency’s Washington field office and to St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month.
