ICE officials replaced with Border Patrol, cementing hard tactics that originated in California - BERITAJA

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has begun reorganizing leadership at roughly a dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices in an effort to intensify immigration enforcement nationwide.

Reports indicate that several ICE field office directors are expected to be replaced by officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to the Washington Examiner, those potentially being replaced include Los Angeles Field Office Director Ernesto Santacruz and San Diego Field Office Director Patrick Divver.

The growing involvement of Border Patrol officials in interior enforcement — traditionally overseen by ICE — represents a significant tactical shift that first emerged in California.

In early January, Gregory Bovino, chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro sector, led a three-day enforcement action in rural Kern County, detaining day laborers more than 300 miles outside his normal jurisdiction. Former officials from the Biden administration claimed the operation had not been cleared through proper channels, describing it as unauthorized.

Bovino used the high-profile operation to establish himself as a leading figure in the administration’s immigration strategy.

A 30-year Border Patrol veteran known for producing polished social media videos showcasing aggressive enforcement methods, Bovino expanded the use of heavily armed, tactical-style operations — once largely confined to border areas — into major U.S. cities.

In Los Angeles this summer, teams of masked, heavily armed agents conducted sweeps targeting day laborers, street vendors, and car wash employees. Friction escalated further when the administration deployed the National Guard.

Enforcement activities intensified after a Supreme Court ruling permitted officers to stop individuals based on factors such as race, ethnicity, employment status, and speaking Spanish.

Bovino later shifted operations to Chicago, where tactics became even more forceful. Agents conducted overnight raids at crowded residential buildings, deployed gas against demonstrators, and fatally shot a man during one incident.

According to Fox News, Bovino is now expected to help select replacements for certain ICE leadership positions.

Tom Wong, director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at UC San Diego, said the leadership overhaul aligns with the administration’s broader strategy.

“The Trump administration is increasingly merging the roles of Border Patrol and ICE,” Wong said. “The concept of the border is no longer limited to geographic boundaries — enforcement is now being treated as if the border exists everywhere.”

Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials described the large-scale transfer of leadership between the two agencies as highly unusual.

While ICE and Border Patrol share overlapping legal authority, their operating cultures differ substantially, said Daniel Altman, former head of internal oversight investigations at Customs and Border Protection.

ICE officers typically work within the country’s interior, relying on investigative work and planned operations targeting specific individuals. Border Patrol agents, by contrast, patrol remote border regions and apprehend individuals they encounter who are suspected of unlawful entry. According to Altman, Border Patrol’s century-old culture emphasizes self-reliance and adaptability in challenging terrain.

“Border Patrol has long seen itself as a problem-solving force,” Altman said. “Whatever enforcement priorities the administration sets, the agency tends to move quickly to carry them out.”

White House officials have reportedly been dissatisfied with current arrest figures. Stephen Miller, President Trump’s deputy chief of staff overseeing immigration policy, has set a target of 3,000 arrests per day — a benchmark the agency has struggled to reach.

DHS has said it expects to remove approximately 600,000 people by January, a figure that includes individuals turned away at ports of entry.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, declined to confirm the reported personnel changes, characterizing them instead as routine adjustments.

“Only the media would frame standard personnel decisions as a ‘massive shakeup,’” she said. “If there are formal announcements to make, we will make them.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized coordination within the administration, stating that officials are working together to implement the president’s agenda and pointing to what she described as strong results in border security and deportations.

Speaking on Fox News, border policy adviser Tom Homan said decisions about personnel fall under the authority of the Homeland Security secretary. He added that the administration remains focused on increasing deportations, particularly of immigrants with criminal convictions.

“I’m at the White House working with Stephen Miller and others to develop strategic plans,” Homan said. “Our goal is to drive the numbers higher and sustain that progress.”

Deborah Fleischaker, a former ICE and DHS official during the Biden administration, said the leadership changes appear designed to transfer Border Patrol’s operational style to ICE.

“Historically, ICE has focused on targeting individuals who pose public safety risks,” she said. “Border Patrol’s mission is more militarized — centered on border security, transnational crime, and smuggling. Applying that model inside American cities raises serious concerns.”

Fleischaker also noted the practical challenges of increasing deportations, citing the complexities of securing travel documentation and persuading foreign governments to accept deportees.

She warned that replacing respected leaders could also damage morale within the agency.

“Employees understand that compliance is expected,” she said. “There’s little room for disagreement or even questioning targets.”

On Tuesday, DHS shared a video montage of Bovino on Instagram set to Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” accompanied by the caption: “WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED.”