Apr 10, 2019

Acting ICE Director Ron Vitiello to exit his post on Friday

Gigi Sukin

Ronald Vitiello. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Ronald Vitiello will vacate his position as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, an agency spokesperson confirmed to Politico.

The backdrop: President Trump abruptly pulled Vitiello's nomination on April 5 for the director position, saying he intends to move the federal enforcement agency in a "tougher direction." ICE has not disclosed details of Vitiello's replacement, though Matthew Albence — the acting deputy director — is technically next in line. Vitiello has been in the position since June 2018.

The big picture: A number of high-level officials at the Department of Homeland Security have exited in the past week, including Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, acting Deputy Secretary Claire Grady and Secret Service chief Randolph "Tex" Alles. The shakeup comes as Trump plans to execute the most aggressive changes in immigration policy since his inauguration, in response to an ongoing surge of migrants at the border.

Go deeper: Inside Trump's new hardline immigration crackdown

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  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 11 a.m. ET: 1,225,360 — Total deaths: 66,542 — Total recoveries: 252,615 — Map.
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  4. 2020 latest: "We have no contingency plan," Trump said on the 2020 Republican National Convention. "We're having the convention at the end of August." Biden says DNC may have to hold virtual convention.
  5. States updates: The Louisiana governor warned that his state is set to run out of ventilators in four days. Illinois governor claims Trump doesn't understand the word "federal."
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