On Thursday, December 5th, President-elect Donald Trump announced multiple nominations, including the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Deputy National Security Advisor for the White House.
Donald Trump revealed his selection for the next CBP Commissioner, nominating former Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, Rodney Scott, for the position. In a social media post on “Truth Social,” Trump praised Scott’s nearly thirty years of service with the Border Patrol, highlighting his extensive experience and knowledge in law enforcement and border security.
Scott, who previously served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, was credited by Trump for implementing key border security measures such as the “Remain-in-Mexico” policy, Title 42, and Safe Third Agreements, which led to historic lows in illegal immigration numbers.
Trump highlighted Scott’s career, stating that he has been working with the Border Patrol in the San Diego area since 1992. Scott also held roles as a counterterrorism advisor and Deputy Executive Director of CBP’s counterterrorism office after the 9/11 attacks.
In February 2020, Trump appointed Scott as the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, and he announced his resignation in June 2021, retiring in August of the same year. Even after retirement, Scott continued to advocate for the importance of border security to policymakers and the public, according to Trump.
On the same evening of December 5th, Trump also nominated Caleb Vitello as the next Acting Director of ICE. Vitello, who has over 23 years of service with ICE, currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Firearms and Tactical Programs Office, overseeing training, equipment, and policies to ensure the safety of officers and the public.
Trump commended Vitello for his role in supervising operations targeting national fugitives, providing policy guidance, strategic planning, and action oversight to track down and arrest fugitives, dangerous criminals, and illegal immigrants, facilitating their deportation.
As the head of enforcement and removal operations, Vitello managed the daily operations of an organization with an $4.7 billion budget and 8,000 employees. During his tenure at the White House National Security Council, Vitello led efforts to protect children and address national security threats.
Trump expressed confidence in Vitello’s leadership abilities, experience, and commitment to ICE’s mission, highlighting him as a prime candidate to bolster security in American communities vulnerable to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Additionally, Trump nominated Tony Salisbury as the Deputy National Security Advisor for the White House. Salisbury, currently serving as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, is responsible for managing complex federal law enforcement investigative programs related to national security and smuggling activities.
Salisbury previously oversaw HSI enforcement activities at various offices in Mexico in his role as Deputy Commissioner. His overseas assignments involved investigating a wide range of HSI missions. He also served as the Chief of the ICE/HSI Trade Transparency Unit, focusing on investigating trade-based money laundering activities.
Trump stated that Salisbury would bring his wealth of experience in law enforcement, drug enforcement, and anti-cartel efforts to the White House, working under policy deputy-chief Stephen Miller as a Homeland Security Advisor.
This wave of nominations by Trump reflects his ongoing efforts to fortify national security and enhance law enforcement operations in the United States.