President-elect Donald Trump has made two new nominees who are expected to play key roles in executing his planned “largest deportation operation in American history,” according to a report by Latin Times. Rodney Scott has been nominated to lead Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Caleb Vitello to serve as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Trump said Scott "served nearly three decades in the Border Patrol, building extensive experience and expertise in Law Enforcement and Border Security," and the president-elect also said that "Rodney served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, where he implemented Remain-in-Mexico, Title 42, Safe Third Country Agreements, and achieved record levels on illegal immigration," on his social media platform, Truth Social, when making the announcement.
As for Caleb Vitello, Trump said he has "over 23 years of service to ICE" and that he "currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, where he oversees Agency-wide training, equipment, and policy to ensure Officer and Public Safety." Trump highlighted that he has "exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and commitment to ICE's mission, which make him an excellent choice to implement my efforts to increase the safety of American communities that have been victimized by illegal immigrant crimes," according to the publication.
The incoming Trump administration has promised to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, starting with those with criminal records. However, less than 0.5% of the 1.8 million cases in immigration court during the last fiscal year — involving about 8,400 people — included deportation orders for alleged crimes other than entering the U.S. illegally, an Axios review found. The numbers do not include more than 400,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions from the past few decades, many of whom are detained in federal, state or local facilities.
Rodney Scott and Caleb
Vitello are likely to work closely with Tom Homan, Trump’s nominee to be his
“border czar.” South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem would be part of the group if she
is confirmed to lead the Department of Homeland Security. DHS oversees all immigration
agencies, including CBP and ICE.