A decision on whom President-elect Trump will nominate to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected within the coming days. Discussions have been held at Mar-a-Lago this week, and a decision could be made as early as Friday. The nominee will require Senate confirmation.
While the specific candidates in the running remain unclear, sources had previously suggested John Fabbricatore and Todd Lyons as top contenders. However, Fabbricatore is now out of consideration. Todd Lyons, currently leading ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operation unit in Boston, is highly regarded within the agency and the transition team.
The Trump team is seeking an individual with a strong law enforcement background to lead ICE, especially as the agency prepares for what President-elect Trump has promised will be a historic mass deportation operation.
Former ICE Director Thomas Homan has been appointed as the 'border czar' and is expected to play a key role in border security and deportation efforts. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
The transition team is planning a significant expansion of detention facilities to support the deportation operation, including increased bed capacity near major cities. However, this initiative is facing opposition from Democratic officials in states like Illinois, Arizona, and Massachusetts, who have stated they will not cooperate with the administration. In contrast, some Republican states, such as Texas, have offered support by providing land for deportation staging areas.
