During a closed-door meeting, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller delivered a scathing critique of senior U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials for what he perceives as inadequate deportation efforts, the Washington Examiner reported.
On May 20, at ICE's Washington headquarters, Miller met with 50 field officials from ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations to convey the Trump administration's expectations for increased arrest and deportation numbers.
The pressure from the White House follows President Trump's commitment to enhance immigration enforcement, compelling ICE to significantly boost daily arrest rates.
The atmosphere within ICE has reportedly been tense due to the administration's mounting demands. ICE officials disclosed feelings of demoralization amid concerns of rigorous oversight and leadership pressures.
Stephen Miller's uncompromising stance left ICE officials feeling demoralized, as he criticized their leadership and performance, expressing disappointment at their current achievements.
Morale at ICE is described as low, with one official recounting that the environment feels fearful due to the intense scrutiny of communications and actions by agency leadership.
Changes in ICE's leadership have also contributed to the unrest. The retirement of Ken Genalo and the replacement of Robert Hammer by Derek Gordon reflect a shifting administration strategy.
There is skepticism about the motivations behind these leadership changes, with a former senior DHS official asserting that some resignations were not entirely voluntary.
Critics argue that these shifts may merely be attempts by the administration to put a positive spin on their challenges in boosting deportation figures.
During the meeting, Miller emphasized the administration's objective of achieving at least 3,000 arrests per day, as part of a broader goal to reverse immigration policies enacted during prior administrations.
Miller's insistence on intensifying efforts has been met with mixed reactions within ICE, especially amid struggles with coordination and resources.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly conveyed to ICE officials that while their efforts were satisfactory, more aggressive measures were needed.
Discussions highlighted issues of coordination, with some officials noting that ICE's collaboration pales in comparison to other agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshals, which may contribute to their challenges.
A new legislative bill to expand ICE's detention capability is being considered, which could alleviate some resource constraints faced by the agency.
