Politics

Trump’s ICE Shakeup: Will Border Patrol Chiefs Replace Underperforming Directors to Boost Immigration Arrests?

Trump plans ICE shakeup: reassigning directors, possibly using Border Patrol officials due to arrest shortfalls.

October 28, 2025, 1:19 AM

Close-up of a black vest with "POLICE ICE" written in white letters on the back

A close-up view of the back of a black vest displaying "POLICE ICE" in large white letters, indicating the wearer is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. By Copyright Lawrey / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

The Trump administration is planning a significant reorganization within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to ongoing frustration over the agency’s failure to meet daily immigration arrest targets.

Proposed changes include reassigning at least a dozen underperforming ICE field office directors and potentially replacing them with officials from U.S. Border Patrol.

The Department of Homeland Security has already deployed over 1,500 U.S. Border Patrol agents to assist ICE with interior immigration enforcement, blurring traditional agency roles.

The Story So Far

The Trump administration, focused on aggressive immigration enforcement, established a goal of 3,000 daily immigration arrests that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has consistently failed to meet. This ongoing shortfall has generated significant frustration within the White House, prompting the current plans for a major reorganization within ICE, including potential reassignments of underperforming field office directors and integration of U.S. Border Patrol officials into leadership roles.

Why This Matters

The Trump administration’s planned reorganization of ICE, stemming from frustration over unmet daily arrest targets and potentially involving the replacement of ICE directors with Border Patrol officials, signals a significant escalation in aggressive immigration enforcement. This move is likely to lead to a blurring of traditional agency roles and a more unified, high-pressure approach to achieving ambitious arrest quotas, potentially resulting in increased interior immigration arrests nationwide.

Who Thinks What?

The Trump administration is frustrated with ICE’s failure to meet daily immigration arrest targets and is planning a significant reorganization, including reassigning underperforming field office directors and potentially replacing them with Border Patrol officials, to intensify enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership, particularly some field office directors, are considered by the administration to be underperforming in meeting arrest quotas and are facing potential reassignment or replacement.

U.S. Border Patrol agents are being deployed to assist ICE with interior immigration enforcement and are being considered for leadership roles within ICE field offices, with their efforts lauded by the administration.

The Trump administration is reportedly planning a significant reorganization within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to ongoing frustration over the agency’s failure to meet daily immigration arrest targets. According to four sources familiar with the discussions, the proposed changes include reassigning at least a dozen underperforming ICE field office directors and potentially replacing them with officials from U.S. Border Patrol.

Administrative Pressures on ICE

Earlier this year, the White House established a goal of 3,000 daily immigration arrests, a target that ICE has largely fallen short of despite increased enforcement efforts. This shortfall has fueled tensions between the White House and ICE leadership, prompting the current plans for a shakeup.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin addressed the situation in a statement, saying, “While we have no personnel changes to announce at this time, the Trump Administration remains laser focused on delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from this country.”

Deployment of Border Patrol Agents

To bolster immigration arrests, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deployed U.S. Border Patrol agents across the country to assist ICE. These agents have been involved in various enforcement actions, including high-profile confrontations with protesters.

Discussions have included the possibility of replacing heads of certain ICE field offices with Border Patrol officials, although sources emphasized that these plans have not been finalized. There are over 1,500 Border Patrol agents currently assisting ICE with interior immigration enforcement.

Key Figures in Enforcement

Gregory Bovino, the chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector, has been a prominent figure in the administration’s urban enforcement crackdowns, including recent operations in Chicago. Leadership at DHS and the White House have publicly and privately lauded Bovino’s work and that of the Border Patrol.

Concerns Regarding Agency Roles

While both ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which includes Border Patrol, operate under the Department of Homeland Security and are involved in immigration enforcement, they traditionally perform distinct functions. The potential replacement of ICE leadership with Border Patrol officials has raised questions about the operational implications and the blending of these roles.

Outlook on Enforcement

The anticipated shakeup underscores the administration’s persistent focus on aggressive immigration enforcement and its efforts to achieve ambitious arrest quotas. These moves come amid ongoing criticisms regarding ICE’s operations, both from within the administration for perceived insufficient action and from lawmakers and advocates who argue the agency is overstepping its bounds.