Major Leadership Shake-Up at Immigration Enforcement Agency

Thu Oct 30 2025 17:03:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Trump administration is reassigning half of ICE's top officers, indicating a significant shift in immigration policy enforcement.

In a substantial overhaul, the Trump administration is shaking up the leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), moving 12 of its field office directors to create a more integrated approach with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This reorganization comes amid criticism of aggressive immigration tactics and heightened enforcement in major cities. Critics worry the changes may lead to intensified actions in immigrant communities as part of the administration’s immigration crackdown.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reassigning at least half the top leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a significant agency shake-up. The changes aim to align ICE more closely with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as indicated by current and former officials.

According to a current official who declined to be named, 12 ICE field office directors overseeing immigration enforcement operations will be reassigned. Notably, half of the new appointments will be filled by existing or retired CBP staff, while the remainder will come from within ICE.

The reason behind these dramatic shifts remains unclear, but they suggest a potential increase in CBP's role in immigration enforcement, especially in urban areas facing heightened scrutiny and aggressive tactics.

This restructuring is the latest instance of personnel changes under the Trump administration, reflecting ongoing efforts to execute the president’s tough immigration policies. Critics express concern over the implications of such changes on immigrant communities across the country.