Amidst growing concerns regarding the rate of deportations and apprehensions of undocumented immigrants, the Trump administration has replaced the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Caleb Vitello. This information has been confirmed by a source close to the situation, echoing a report initially published by the Wall Street Journal. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson also validated the personnel change.
While Vitello is no longer serving in an administrative capacity, his responsibilities now include overseeing field and enforcement operations, which encompass locating, apprehending, and deporting individuals residing in the country illegally. The administration emphasizes that this remains a top priority for both President Trump and Secretary Noem.
Although ICE arrests have seen a considerable rise since the start of the Trump administration, they haven't reached the levels envisioned by the administration's objectives. President Trump's campaign included promises of a substantial deportation effort.
Recent Department of Homeland Security statistics reveal a significant increase in interior ICE arrests. Between January 20th and February 8th, there were 11,791 arrests, a striking 137% increase compared to the 4,969 arrests during the same timeframe in 2024. Furthermore, arrests of individuals with criminal records have nearly doubled, rising from 4,526 in the same period of 2024 to 8,993 this year under the Trump administration.
In contrast, the number of undocumented immigrants successfully crossing the southern border without apprehension has decreased dramatically. Recent figures show a daily average of just 132 such crossings since the beginning of February, representing a 93% drop from the peak numbers during former President Biden's term. Border czar Tom Homan recently stated that border crossings are down 95% based on official data.
The Department of Homeland Security has implemented various measures to strengthen ICE enforcement. These include lifting Biden-era restrictions on where agents can make arrests, empowering officers from other agencies, and utilizing federal prisons to detain undocumented immigrants. Additionally, the administration has rescinded Biden-era parole policies that allowed migrants to enter at ports of entry or receive approval for travel to the U.S.
Other actions taken by the administration include using Guantanamo Bay to house migrants, initiating legal proceedings against several "sanctuary cities" that do not cooperate with ICE, and terminating a Biden-era extension of Temporary Protected Status for both Haitian and Venezuelan nationals.
