The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a major shakeup inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move comes amid growing frustration within the White House over what officials see as lagging immigration arrests. Multiple sources familiar with the matter said senior officials are dissatisfied with ICE’s performance and plan to replace several top field directors across the country.
Rising Tensions Between White House and ICE Over Immigration Arrests
Earlier this year, the White House set a bold goal for ICE — 3,000 immigration arrests per day. Officials viewed this as an ambitious target, especially since the agency already struggles with limited staff and resources. Despite efforts to increase operations, ICE has failed to consistently reach that number.
The shortfall in immigration arrests has reportedly angered top government officials. They are now planning to reassign or replace at least a dozen of the 25 directors who lead ICE field offices across the United States. Officials are reviewing these leaders for what they describe as underperformance in meeting the administration’s enforcement goals.
Although the administration has not announced any formal personnel changes, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the administration remains laser-focused on delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from the country.
The administration’s internal discussions about immigration arrests and ICE’s performance show how central immigration enforcement has become to its policy agenda. At the same time, the agency finds itself caught between competing pressures from political leaders, lawmakers, and the public.
Growing Pressure and Public Backlash Over Immigration Arrests
Since taking office, the Trump administration has made immigration arrests a top priority. ICE officers were instructed to increase deportations and target undocumented immigrants more widely across the country. However, this aggressive approach has drawn criticism from many directions.
Some within the administration believe ICE hasn’t gone far enough to meet its deportation and immigration arrests goals. On the other hand, lawmakers and immigration advocates argue that the agency has gone too far and that its methods are too harsh. Public outrage has also been growing, with protesters frequently confronting ICE and Border Patrol officers during enforcement actions.
In response to these challenges, the Department of Homeland Security began assigning U.S. Border Patrol agents to help ICE carry out immigration arrests inside the country. Typically, Border Patrol operates near the nation’s borders, but under this expanded role, hundreds of agents have been sent deep into U.S. cities to assist with operations.
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There are now more than 1,500 Border Patrol agents working alongside ICE officers in what officials describe as a coordinated effort to strengthen immigration arrests and enforcement. This cooperation has led to some of the most visible and controversial actions of the administration, especially in cities that have resisted federal immigration policies.
These expanded operations have sparked intense protests and, in some cases, confrontations between federal agents and local residents. Demonstrations have erupted near ICE detention centers and holding facilities, with activists accusing federal officers of using excessive force during immigration arrests and deportation raids.
Border Patrol’s Rising Role in ICE Operations
One key figure in the nationwide immigration crackdowns is Gregory Bovino, chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector of the U.S. Border Patrol. He has led enforcement operations in several Democratic-led cities, including Chicago, where agents recently clashed with protesters near an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois.
Protesters accused agents of violating a judge’s order by using tear gas, sparking criticism from civil rights groups but earning praise from DHS leaders, who called Bovino’s actions firm and effective.
Sources say the administration may assign more leadership roles within ICE to Border Patrol officials, potentially replacing some ICE field heads. While both agencies fall under the Department of Homeland Security, their missions differ—ICE handles immigration arrests inside the U.S., while Border Patrol secures the borders.
Critics warn this overlap could lead to more aggressive immigration arrests far from border areas. Still, DHS and the White House credit the collaboration between ICE and Border Patrol for boosting operational strength and raising immigration arrests, even if the 3,000-per-day goal remains unmet. The shakeup discussions continue, with possible leadership changes expected soon.