(NewsNation) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in at least five major cities, including Denver, are being temporarily replaced by senior Border Patrol agents, sources confirmed to NewsNation.
The other cities include Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Diego. ICE officers in those locations were relieved of their jobs last week and moved to other positions within the agency, the sources said.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement, said the administration had “no personnel changes to announce at this time,” but praised President Donald Trump and his team for “delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from this country.”
It comes as Border Czar Tom Homan says he’s working with White House adviser Stephen Miller to increase the pace of deportations.
“We need to continue prioritizing public safety threats,” Homan told NewsNation. “Worst first but prioritization doesn’t mean everyone else is off the table. If you are here illegally, you ARE NOT off the table.”
Border Patrol has been carrying out the majority of the sweeping raids that generally lead to protests at the direction of Chief Gregory Bovino, who appeared in court Tuesday over allegations that he threw tear gas canisters during an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.
Border Patrol agents also carry out targeted enforcement operations. By comparison, ICE officers generally stick to one target after they conduct research.
Earlier this month, Bovino told NewsNation that Border Patrol operations are “all legal, ethical and moral.”
Fox News reports that the change in staffing comes from competing factions within deportation enforcement, with Homan and ICE Director Todd Lyons squared off against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Bovino.
Sources believe that ICE’s current enforcement approach is not producing the number of arrests Trump wants, but Bovino’s broader methods appear to be what the administration is after.
“We are going to go throughout Chicago with reckless abandon — professionally, legally, ethically and morally — and arrest all illegal alien gang members that we can get our hands on,” Bovino told NewsNation.
By temporarily detailing Border Patrol agents out in ICE’s stead, the operations in some of the nation’s major cities will likely shift toward Bovino’s methods.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
