Major changes are taking place within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grapples with internal conflicts regarding deportation tactics and priorities. According to four senior DHS officials, this leadership overhaul is underway at a critical moment, with Border Patrol agents assuming key leadership roles in eight major cities. The shift marks an unprecedented internal power dynamic within DHS, revealing clear divisions over the extent of deportation efforts.
The current situation is driven by competing factions within the department. On one side are Border Czar Tom Homan and ICE Director Todd Lyons, who advocate for a targeted approach, prioritizing criminal aliens and those with final deportation orders. On the other are DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who push for a broader, more aggressive strategy to increase deportation numbers. This division has created a tense and combative atmosphere inside DHS, with some ICE leaders warning that the new approach could erode public support and blur the line between ICE and Border Patrol operations.
One senior DHS official explained that ICE has traditionally focused on the ‘worst of the worst,’ but the Border Patrol’s more aggressive strategy has shifted focus, leading to a loss of priority. Another official described the situation as a ‘numbers-driven’ approach that may come at a cost to public support. The Border Patrol has defended its strategy, asserting that mass deportations mean targeting anyone in the U.S. illegally, as stated by Border Czar Tom Homan.
The internal conflict occurs against the backdrop of deportation totals remaining below earlier administrative targets. The personnel changes are expected to affect ICE field chiefs in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Portland, Philadelphia, El Paso, and New Orleans, with these roles typically filled by Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. A separate DHS official confirmed these changes, describing them as performance-based and intended to yield better results. However, a DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, emphasized the administration’s continued focus on removing violent criminal illegal aliens from the country, without announcing any new personnel changes at this time.