DHS Removes Top ICE Officials, Reportedly Plans to Increase Immigration Enforcement

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly replaced some Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, in an effort to increase unauthorized immigrant deportations. 

The Details: Five ICE officials were transferred last Friday out of Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Diego. DHS reportedly planned to fire the officials but settled on the transfer after pushback from ICE Director Todd Lyons. The department is expected to expand the replacement efforts nationwide, across ICE’s 24 field offices. The incoming CBP agents are set to take over immigration enforcement and deportation efforts in their assigned regions, shifting from their usual stations along US borders.

For Context: During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump called for tighter restrictions on legal immigration and greater funding for border security. Since Trump’s inauguration, his administration has significantly ramped up deportation efforts and is reportedly on track to beat the record of presidential deportations in one year. Trump also imposed federalization efforts on US cities to further immigration enforcement.

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How The Media Covered It: Media on the left covered this story more prominently; however, media across the political spectrum were not transparent about their sources or in agreement on all details. Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias), for example, cited “five [unnamed] sources familiar with the plans.” Mediaite (Lean Left) noted, “While NBC News [Lean Left] reported that the administration ‘is planning to replace some regional leaders’ at ICE with officials from Customs and Border Protection, Fox News’s [Right] Bill Melugin said the purge is ‘underway.’” Newsweek (Center) cited DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, who said the agency had “no personnel changes to announce” on Monday. The outlet framed the transfer as a “significant strategic shift in the Trump administration's execution of its immigration enforcement priorities.” Washington Examiner called the “aggressive” crackdown “the new standard for what is to come at ICE.”

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