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Trump taps border, ICE veterans to advance immigration agenda

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President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday, Dec. 5, he is nominating former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott to head U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He also tapped ICE veteran Caleb Vitello as Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement posted to his Truth Social account, Trump praised Scott for nearly three decades of service in the Border Patrol and for helping to implement key immigration policies during Trump’s first term. Scott was involved in the Remain-in-Mexico policy, Title 42, Safe Third Agreements, and efforts that led to record-low levels of illegal immigration. Scott also served briefly under the Biden administration before retiring in August 2021.

Trump also highlighted Vitello’s 23 years of service with ICE.

“Caleb currently serves as Assistant Director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, where he oversees agency-wide training, equipment, and policy to ensure officer and public safety,” Trump said.

Trump emphasized that Vitello’s extensive experience would help him carry out his immigration agenda, calling him an “excellent choice” to “enhance the safety and security of American communities who have been victimized by illegal alien crime.”

The president-elect reiterated his commitment to implementing the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history, prioritizing the removal of violent migrant criminals from American streets.

When asked by NBC News about the cost of mass deportations one day after winning the election, Trump responded: “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

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PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCING NEW NOMINEES AND APPOINTMENTS TO ADVANCE HIS IMMIGRATION AGENDA. TRUMP SAID THURSDAY HE IS NOMINATING FORMER BORDER PATROL CHIEF RODNEY SCOTT TO HEAD CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND TAPPED ICE VETERAN CALEB VITELLO AS ACTING ICE DIRECTOR.

 

IN A STATEMENT POSTED TO HIS TRUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNT, TRUMP SAID SCOTT SERVED NEARLY THREE DECADES IN THE BORDER PATROL AND HELPED TO IMPLEMENT THE REMAIN-IN-MEXICO POLICY UNDER TRUMP’S FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, ALONG WITH TITLE 42, SAFE THIRD AGREEMENTS, AND ACHIEVED RECORD LOW LEVELS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. SCOTT ALSO SERVED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RETIRING IN AUGUST 2021.

 

TRUMP ALSO SAID VITELLO HAS OVER 23 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ICE AND “CURRENTLY SERVES AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FIREARMS AND TACTICAL PROGRAMS, WHERE HE OVERSEES AGENCY-WIDE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT, AND POLICY TO ENSURE OFFICER AND PUBLIC SAFETY.”

 

TRUMP SAYS VITELLO’S EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WILL HELP THE PRESIDENT-ELECT CARRY OUT HIS IMMIGRATION AGENDA AND MAKES HIM AN “EXCELLENT CHOICE” TO “ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF AMERICAN COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIME.”

 

TRUMP SAYS HE PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE LARGEST MASS DEPORTATION EFFORT IN AMERICAN HISTORY WITH THE PRIORITY OF GETTING VIOLENT MIGRANT CRIMINALS OFF U.S. STREETS.

 

ONE DAY AFTER WINNING THE ELECTION, NBC NEWS ASKED TRUMP ABOUT THE PRICE TAG OF CARRYING OUT MASS DEPORTATIONS, AND HE SAID QUOTE “IT’S NOT A QUESTION OF A PRICE TAG. IT’S NOT — REALLY, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE KILLED AND MURDERED, WHEN DRUG LORDS HAVE DESTROYED COUNTRIES, AND NOW THEY’RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THOSE COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT STAYING HERE. THERE IS NO PRICE TAG.”