ICE Chief Caleb Vitello Forced Out Amid Policy Tensions

Caleb Vitello lost his position as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which expresses a fundamental change in immigration enforcement priorities. ICE agents made only 667 arrests daily in the first three weeks under his leadership. These numbers fell short of the expected 1,200 to 1,500 arrests per day. The agency’s deportation numbers also dropped, with 37,660 people deported in the first month – far below the previous administration’s monthly average of 57,000.

Vitello’s reassignment as ICE’s former director came after the White House increased pressure about enforcement targets. Tom Homan, the White House border czar, noted that arrests inside the U.S. tripled compared to Biden’s previous year. Yet these numbers did not meet the administration’s ambitious goals. This leadership change aligns with the administration’s declared national emergency at the southern border and its steadfast dedication to remove unauthorized immigrants quickly.

White House Removes Caleb Vitello Over Deportation Targets

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem decided to remove Caleb Vitello from his position as acting ICE director. The administration grew frustrated because ICE couldn’t meet their ambitious deportation targets, even with increased enforcement activities.

During Vitello’s short time as director, ICE made 11,791 interior arrests from January 20 to February 8, compared to 4,969 in the same period in 2024. The arrests of people with criminal histories nearly doubled from 4,526 to 8,993. These numbers didn’t meet what the administration expected.

The White House created strict new quotas for ICE field operations. The agency’s two dozen field offices must now make 75 arrests each day to reach a total of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests daily. These numbers show how aggressively the administration wants to enforce immigration laws.

Border Czar Tom Homan wasn’t happy with current arrest rates. Even though interior enforcement tripled compared to last year, Homan said they needed to do much more. “There are more criminal aliens that need to be arrested, hundreds of thousands,” he stated.

ICE faces several challenges in meeting these targets. They don’t have enough detention beds and sanctuary cities resist their efforts. High-profile removals need many staff members and careful planning, especially with people wanted for serious crimes in other countries.

The administration made detailed changes to address these issues. ICE now works on making deportation processes faster and expanding what they can do. The Department of Homeland Security gave ICE agents new directives that removed old restrictions and gave them more power to enforce laws.

Vitello will keep working at ICE after his reassignment. He will oversee field and enforcement operations. This change makes use of his 20-year experience while bringing new leadership to fix the administration’s concerns about deportation rates.

ICE Veterans Question Leadership Shake-up

ICE veterans have mixed feelings about Caleb Vitello’s unexpected leadership transition. Jason Houser, who served as ICE chief of staff under Biden’s administration, highlighted unrealistic White House expectations that asked ICE to “defy the math” with unattainable enforcement targets.

The agency faces several operational hurdles that prevent it from meeting aggressive quotas. Officers can’t build new target lists after they depleted existing databases during January’s enforcement surge. Many immigrants now make arrests more difficult by refusing to open their doors during ICE operations.

Corey Price, who previously led Enforcement and Removal Operations as acting executive associate director, spoke highly of Vitello’s leadership approach: “He’s very even-keeled. I honestly can’t think of a single thing controversial about him”. A current ICE agent confirmed that rank-and-file officers widely support Vitello.

The sudden reassignment surprised ICE staff members, as many learned about it through news alerts instead of internal channels. Some agency insiders welcomed Vitello’s December appointment because an ICE veteran would lead the organization.

RJ Hauman, who leads the National Immigration Center for Enforcement, highlighted resource limitations: “ICE is nowhere near capable of mass deportations due to manpower and resource constraints”. Despite these constraints, ICE officers managed over 15,000 arrests through mid-February.

Vitello’s impressive career spans two decades. He served as Acting Assistant Director for the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, managed a $4.12 billion budget as Enforcement Removals Chief of Staff, and directed interior enforcement at the White House National Security Council. His achievements earned him multiple Director’s Awards for innovation, core values, and homeland protection.

ICE faces unprecedented enforcement challenges during this leadership change. The agency’s daily arrests peaked at 800 in late January, yet it must reach between 1,200 and 1,500 arrests daily. Space shortages in detention centers have forced ICE to use additional facilities at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base.

Border Czar Demands Stricter Enforcement Protocols

Tom Homan, the new border czar, unveiled tough enforcement protocols to tighten immigration control measures. He presented his strategy to make criminals the priority for deportation at the National Sheriffs’ Association meeting.

“If critics of ICE don’t want immigration agents sweeping up non-criminal immigrants, they should welcome cooperation between federal agents and local jails,” Homan stated. His strategy targets people who threaten public safety, national security, and those whose asylum claims failed.

The border czar’s enforcement plan brings major changes to detention practices. ICE needs 100,000 beds in total, which is more than twice its current capacity. The Laken Riley Act, the administration’s first law, requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants who face arrest, charges, or convictions for crimes like burglary, theft, and shoplifting.

Homan delivered a clear message to sanctuary cities: “If you let us in the jail, we can arrest the bad guy in the jail safely. One officer could do that, but releasing a public safety threat back into the community puts everyone at risk”.

The enforcement strategy has:

• Simple guidelines for ICE field offices
• Required detailed alien arrest and detention data
• Enhanced basic training courses
• More field supervisors

ICE faces questions about its risk assessment practices under Homan’s leadership. Officers didn’t conduct risk assessments for 79,977 detained individuals in fiscal year 2023, which makes up 33% of total detainees. This shows improvement from fiscal year 2022’s 43% non-completion rate.

Politicians reacted differently to the border czar’s appointment. Texas Senator Ted Cruz supported Homan’s selection, while some Democrats, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, showed openness to discuss enforcement strategies. Homan’s earlier role as ICE acting director from 2017 to 2018 led to record deportation numbers, which built his reputation for strict immigration control.

Conclusion

Caleb Vitello’s exit has sparked a fundamental change in U.S. immigration enforcement strategy. ICE’s arrest numbers tripled compared to previous years but still failed to meet White House expectations. Field offices across the country now don’t deal very well with the administration’s daily arrest quotas.

The agency struggles go beyond just leadership changes. ICE can’t meet its enforcement goals due to space limitations in detention centers, resistance from sanctuary cities, and outdated target databases. Many experienced officials doubt these new quotas match their actual capabilities and resources.

Border Czar Tom Homan has introduced strict enforcement protocols that show the administration’s steadfast dedication to tough immigration control. He focuses on catching public safety threats and building stronger ties with local law enforcement. These changes highlight the growing tension between ambitious enforcement goals and ground realities.

ICE must find the right balance between White House demands and real-world limitations. The agency needs to solve its core problems while pursuing tougher enforcement goals. This leadership change comes at a crucial time for U.S. immigration policy.

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