President-elect Donald Trump has announced his picks to lead the agencies responsible for executing his hard-line immigration and border policies. Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief known for his support of tougher enforcement measures, has been chosen to lead Customs and Border Protection. Additionally, Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with over 23 years of experience, has been nominated as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
These appointments are part of Trump’s immigration leadership team, which includes Governor Kristi Noem, former ICE head Tom Homan, and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller. Customs and Border Protection, which has around 60,000 employees, is responsible for protecting the country’s borders and facilitating trade and travel. Scott, who has a long history with the Border Patrol and believes in the effectiveness of barriers, was named chief of the San Diego sector in 2017.
While Scott’s past actions, such as firing tear gas into Mexico and refusing to use terms like “illegal alien,” have drawn criticism, he is seen as a trusted figure by the administration. Despite the focus on illegal immigration and border security, the agency also plays a crucial role in securing trade and international travel, especially if Trump follows through on tariff threats against Mexico, China, and Canada.
Scott, who was dismissed under the Biden administration, has continued to support Trump’s immigration agenda through appearances on Fox News and testimony in Congress. In a recent interview, he called for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and increased pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration laws on their side of the border. With these new appointments, the implementation of Trump’s immigration policies is likely to continue under the new administration.
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