The Trump administration has ousted the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Caleb Vitello, due to concerns over the pace of deportations and arrests of illegal immigrants. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the personnel change to Fox News.
Vitello, who had been serving as acting director, was removed from his role, though he will continue overseeing field and enforcement operations at ICE, which include finding, arresting, and deporting illegal aliens. This change comes amid increasing pressure from the administration to ramp up immigration enforcement, a central issue during President Trump’s re-election campaign.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the leadership change. The spokesperson reiterated that finding and removing illegal immigrants remains a top priority for both President Trump and newly appointed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Despite ICE arrests rising significantly since January, the pace has not met the administration’s ambitious targets.
Under the Trump administration, ICE arrests have increased dramatically in the early months of 2025, with 11,791 interior arrests from January 20 to February 8, compared to just 4,969 during the same period in 2024 — a 137% increase.
The number of arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds has risen nearly 100%, from 4,526 in 2024 to 8,993 in 2025.
However, despite the increase in arrests, sources within DHS have expressed frustration with the current pace, suggesting that additional leadership changes or measures might be implemented to meet the administration’s deportation targets.
In addition to the surge in ICE arrests, other efforts to curb illegal immigration have proven successful under the Trump administration. The number of “gotaways” — illegal migrants who successfully cross the border without being apprehended — has plummeted. As of February 2025, the daily average of gotaways is just 132 per day, a sharp 93% decrease from the highest numbers recorded under former President Joe Biden’s administration. Border Czar Tom Homan stated that border crossings have dropped by 95%, based on actual data.
Further steps to enhance border security include expanding ICE enforcement powers, such as lifting restrictions on where arrests can be made and deputizing officers from other federal agencies to assist in immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has also made use of federal prisons to house illegal immigrants, a move designed to increase detention space and improve the efficiency of deportation efforts.
Additionally, the administration has taken strong action against “sanctuary cities” that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The DOJ has launched legal challenges against these jurisdictions in an effort to ensure compliance with federal immigration laws.
Trump’s DHS has reversed Biden-era parole policies that allowed migrants to enter the U.S. at ports of entry or be approved for travel within the country. The decision has led to greater scrutiny of migrant arrivals and greater control over who is allowed to remain in the U.S. while their cases are pending.
In addition to its enforcement measures, the Trump administration has also moved to rescind Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extensions for Haitian and Venezuelan nationals, citing concerns over the abuse of the system and the need to prioritize national security.
As the administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, the leadership shakeup at ICE reflects the ongoing push to achieve what Trump promised during his campaign — a more aggressive and efficient approach to border security and immigration enforcement.
The future of ICE under new leadership will be closely watched as the Trump administration strives to meet its goals while navigating the growing legal and political challenges surrounding its immigration policies.
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Your headline above and on your email is incorrect. This individual was neither terminated or fired. He was reassigned. It’s not fair to the individual involved to have what happened misrepresented in this way. Very important to get this right as there will likely be many more of these reassignments as the Trump Administration strives to meet their goals and objectives. It’s not uncommon or unexpected to move people around to increase productivity and accomplish better outcomes.
Was he fired or demoted? Sounds like a demotion to me. Do the editor and writer know the difference?
Amazing what actually happens when the border is ACTUALLY secured instead of Democrat gaslighting that it was secure.
🎵 Head ‘em up, MOVE ‘EM OUT…..Rolling, Rolling, Rolling ! 🎵. Trump is a man with a mission and he’s not messing around. He’s the OPPOSITE of D.C. (District of Criminals) !