Trump administration removes acting ICE director amid push for more deportations

The Trump administration has removed Caleb Vitello as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of an effort to accelerate deportations, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move reflects growing frustration within the White House over the agency’s inability to meet aggressive arrest and deportation targets.

Vitello, who was appointed in December, will now oversee field and enforcement operations at ICE, focusing specifically on deportations. His removal follows the recent reassignment of two senior officials responsible for deportation efforts, per the New York Times.

In addition to these changes, the administration is expected to hire Madison Sheahan, currently Louisiana’s Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries, for a senior role at ICE. Sheahan has ties to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, having previously worked for her in South Dakota.

With mass deportation efforts ramping up, ICE has increased arrests in major cities, though officials acknowledge they lack the manpower and funding to meet Trump’s campaign promises. The administration has explored alternative solutions, including using military resources and expanding detention centers at military bases.