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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Thursday sent out documents removing the appointment of long-time border official Ron Vitiello as director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, according to three informed people the move.
The activity caused some confusion, with some Homeland Security officials saying that this was done in error.
Vitiello was appointed to the leadership position after more than 30 years of law enforcement, beginning in 1985 with the US Border Patrol. He had a Senate hearing in November and his appointment was approved by the Homeland Security Committee.
The US Department of Homeland Security referred questions Thursday to the White House, which has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
The decision was made while immigration officials were grappling with a sharp increase in the number of border crossings between the United States and Mexico and a recent outbreak of President Donald Trump, who had threatened to close the border completely. by the end of the week before retiring.
In recent months, the number of families who have entered the United States has risen to unprecedented levels, pushing the system to what government officials see as a breaking point.
Since December 21, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released more than 125,000 people who came to the United States as families, a gesture that Trump called "taking hold of".
Nevertheless, Thursday's letter surprised US Homeland Security officials. Vitiello was scheduled to travel with Trump to the border on Friday, but he is not leaving, said one official. He will still remain acting director of the agency responsible for the enforcement of immigration law in the United States.
An internal security official insisted the letter was a paperwork mistake that had been corrected. But other senior officials said the move did not seem to be a mistake, even though they had not been informed in advance.
People had direct knowledge of the letter but were not allowed to speak in public and spoke to the Associated Press under the guise of anonymity.
Jill Colvin, Associated Press reporter, contributed to this report.
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