Two top U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have been reassigned amid pressure to dramatically increase arrests of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, three sources familiar with the matter said.
In a move announced to staff on Tuesday, ICE said Russell Hott and Peter Berg, the two most senior officials in the agency's enforcement division, would be reassigned. The Washington Post first reported the news.
President Donald Trump took office in January promising record deportations, saying they were necessary after high levels of immigration under his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump issued executive orders making it easier for ICE officers to arrest non-criminals and assigned other federal agents to assist ICE.
Acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello remains under pressure to increase arrests and deportations while releasing fewer people from custody in the next week, one of the sources said.
Trump's border czar Tom Homan said on Tuesday he was not happy with the number of arrests.
"Three times higher is good, but I'm not satisfied," he told reporters at the White House.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin did not confirm the reassignments but said in a statement that "a culture of accountability" was needed within ICE.
“We have a President, DHS Secretary, and American people who rightfully demand results, and our ICE leadership will ensure the agency delivers," she said.
Hott and Berg could not immediately be reached.
Hott will transfer to ICE's local office in Washington, D.C., and Berg will go to Minnesota, one of the sources said.
