Trump administration reconfigures leadership at ICE in response to dissatisfaction

The Trump administration reconfigures leadership at ICE in response to dissatisfaction with arrest and deportation rates.

The Trump administration is overhauling the leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as frustrations within the White House persist regarding the agency's immigration arrest and deportation rates, officials revealed Thursday.

Kenneth Genalo, who has served as the head of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) — the branch responsible for arrests and deportations — will step down to retire but will continue to provide counsel to agency leadership as a special government employee. Under Genalo's leadership, ERO has been central to the Trump administration's vigorous nationwide initiative aimed at increasing the identification, arrest, and deportation of unauthorized migrants. Additionally, Robert Hammer, director of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been reassigned to another critical role within the agency, as per officials. HSI, traditionally focused on tackling transnational crimes such as child exploitation and human trafficking, has had many of its agents redirected to bolster efforts in immigration arrests and deportations under the Trump administration. Marcos Charles and Derek Gordon, both seasoned ICE officials, will take over for Genalo and Hammer, the agency announced in a statement on Thursday. ICE characterized these personnel changes as a "leadership realignment to support its increasing operational tempo." The statement emphasized that these organizational adjustments would aid ICE in fulfilling President Trump's directive and addressing the public's demand for the arrest and deportation of individuals viewed as criminal illegal aliens, enhancing community safety. The agency has faced significant pressure from the White House to escalate arrests of migrants residing in the U.S. illegally or those under temporary immigration programs that the Trump administration aims to eliminate.

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, stated on Fox News Wednesday that the administration is urging ICE to achieve "a minimum" of 3,000 arrests daily, representing a substantial increase in immigration enforcement activities. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This recent leadership shake-up, first reported by NBC News, marks yet another change in ICE's leadership under the Trump administration. Caleb Vitello, who was initially appointed by President Trump to lead ICE, was reassigned just weeks after being named acting director in February. He was succeeded by Todd Lyons, a senior ICE official who continues to serve in the acting director role.

Camilo Montoya-Galvez