On Wednesday, the chaos within the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security was as apparent as ever. It was announced that Ron Vitiello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would be stepping down from his position on Friday.
Following the announcement, the outgoing secretary of the DHS, Kirstjen Nielsen, released a statement announcing that Vitiello would be leaving his position. She also thanked him for his “unwavering” leadership.
Kirstjen Nielsen’s statement read: “For over three decades, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Ron Vitiello has protected our homeland with courage and conviction. Ron’s knowledge and expertise as a seasoned law enforcement professional has been invaluable to DHS, and he has left a legacy of excellence as our Department has expanded and refined our efforts to curb illegal immigration and secure our borders.”
She continued by saying: “On behalf of DHS I want to thank Ron for his service and dedication, and I wish him the very best in this next chapter of his career.” While speaking to Fox News during an interview, an official for ICE said that Vitiello’s last day with DHS would be on Friday.
Due to President Trump’s goal of taking a tougher stance on immigration issues at the southern border, Vitiello’s departure is only one of many resignations that have taken place recently in the DHS.
Following her meeting with President Trump, Nielsen resigned last Sunday after 16 months in her position. Officials stated on Monday that the director of the Secret Service, Randolph “Tex” Alles, would be stepping down from his position.
On Tuesday, the acting deputy for the DHS, Claire Grady, handed in her resignation. Technically, Grady was the person who was was supposed to take Nielsen’s place when she resigned.
Over the past weekend, President Trump declared that Kevin McAleenan, the head of Customs and Border Protection, would be serving as the new acting secretary.
