President-elect Donald Trump has named Rodney Scott, former chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, as his pick to head Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency responsible for managing U.S. borders and overseeing ports of entry. The announcement was made Thursday evening.
Scott, who served as Border Patrol chief under both Trump and President Biden, played a key role in implementing significant border enforcement measures. These included the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly known as “Remain in Mexico,” and Title 42, both designed to control immigration at the U.S. southern border.
CBP is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States, employing more than 60,000 staff members. It oversees the U.S. Border Patrol and is in charge of inspecting over 300 points of entry, such as airports, seaports, and land borders, where millions of people cross legally every year. CBP officers are often the first to interact with immigrants seeking asylum when they arrive in the U.S.
In addition, Trump has selected Caleb Vitello to serve as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vitello, currently the assistant director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, has worked for ICE for more than 23 years, including serving as chief of staff for the Enforcement and Removal Operations division. Trump praised Vitello’s leadership, experience, and dedication to ICE’s mission, which includes enforcing immigration laws, combating human smuggling, and overseeing deportations.
ICE is a key agency in the U.S. immigration system, with more than 20,000 employees. It manages immigration enforcement, operates detention facilities, and collaborates with local authorities. ICE was formed in 2003 following the merger of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the U.S. Customs Service.
Both Scott and Vitello will work closely with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was recently nominated to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS oversees CBP, ICE, and other immigration-related agencies.
Additionally, Scott, Vitello, and Noem will collaborate with Stephen Miller, appointed as deputy chief of staff for policy, and Tom Homan, named “border czar.” Miller and Homan were influential in shaping immigration policies during Trump’s first term, including the controversial “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in the separation of children from their families at the border.
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