Ronald D. Vitellio Named Acting Director of ICE

On June 30, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced that Ronald D. Vitiello, previously the acting Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will serve as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) [PDF version]. Vitiello replaced Thomas D. Homan, the former Deputy Director of ICE and acting Director of ICE, who retired effective June 30, 2018 [see blog]. Because there is still no permanent Director of ICE, Vitiello will also serve as the acting Director.

Acting Director Vitiello had previously been serving as the acting Deputy Commissioner of the CBP since April 25, 2017 [see blog]. Vitiello joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1985 when it was still part of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). He remained with the Border Patrol after it was incorporated into the CBP and moved to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, where he has served since. Vitiello was named Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol in 2010, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in February 2017, and then finally Acting Deputy Commissioner of the CBP in April 2017. He will now transition from the CBP to ICE.

Homan had been President Donald Trump's nominee for Director of ICE. President Trump has not announced a new nominee for the position. Thus, Vitellio can be expected to serve as the acting Director for the foreseeable future.