Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen has announced that Ronald D. Vitiello will serve as Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), effective Saturday, June 30. He will also take on the role as the Acting Director of ICE.

Vitiello currently serves as the Acting Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has a new captain at its helm, with Ronald Vitiello named as acting director after former ICE chief Thomas Homan’s resignation. Courtesy of Newsweek and YouTube. Posted on Jul 2, 2018.)

Secretary Nielsen’s message to all DHS employees announcing Deputy Commissioner Vitiello’s new position is below.

I am pleased to announce that Ronald D. Vitiello has been named the Deputy Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), effective Saturday, June 30.

As of today he will also take on the role as the Acting Director of U.S. ICE.

As U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner, Ron has more than 30 years of experience working in law enforcement and protecting our nation.

Deputy Commissioner Vitiello brings to ICE the vision and leadership needed to continue the exceptional work the agency is doing to accomplish its crucial national security and public safety missions.

Deputy Commissioner Vitiello began his career in Laredo, Texas, entering on duty as a U.S. Border Patrol agent in 1985, a member of Class 174.

Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership positions, participated in Special Response Team operations and was instrumental in formulating the Laredo Sector Criminal Alien Program.

He also oversaw the regional implementation of Operation Rio Grande in 1997.

Deputy Commissioner Vitiello played a key role in standing up CBP as our nation’s unified border agency in 2003, having been assigned to the Operations Division of the former DHS Border and Transportation Security Directorate.

He transferred to CBP headquarters in 2010 when he was named Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol.

He was named Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in February 2017 and was selected to serve as CBP’s Acting Deputy Commissioner later that same year.

I am pleased that ICE will continue to be led by an experienced and well-respected career law enforcement officer who will be a strong advocate for the agency’s workforce.

At the same time, we must bid farewell to the current Acting Director of ICE, Tom Homan.

Acting Director Homan has been a part of the DHS community since he entered on duty as a Border Patrol Agent more than 30 years ago.

Under his exceptional leadership, the men and women of ICE have made significant progress in restoring the rule of law to our immigration system and countering criminals such as human smugglers and those attempting to exploit children.

This past year has seen arrests increase by 40 percent, interior removals increase by 30 percent, and the highest number of MS-13 arrests since 2008.

Additionally in 2017, ICE seized approximately 7,000 pounds of heroin and more than 2,300 pounds of fentanyl.

Employee morale also rose to its highest level since 2010, due in large part to Acting Director Homan’s passionate leadership.

In recognition of his exceptional service, Tom was honored with the 2015 Presidential Rank Award and more recently, with the 2018 Law Enforcement Leader of the Year award from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

His faithful, professional, and tireless dedication to ICE and our nation has been a model of excellence for us all.

Acting Director Homan will be greatly missed in his well-earned (second) retirement.

We wish Tom and his family all the best and know they will remain part of the DHS family.

Please join me in thanking Acting Director Homan for his service, and in congratulating Deputy Commissioner Vitiello on his new position.

Best regards,

Kirstjen M. Nielsen
Secretary of Homeland Security

With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Uttam Dhillon as New Acting DEA Administrator

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced the appointment of Uttam Dhillon as Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Dhillon will replace Robert Patterson, who has retired after 30 years of service.

“With one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes, there can be no doubt that we are facing the deadliest drug epidemic in our history,” Attorney General Sessions said.

“The work of the Drug Enforcement Administration is critical to fighting this crisis, and President Trump and I are committed to continuing to give it the strong leadership it deserves.”

“That is why I am pleased to appoint Uttam Dhillon as Acting Administrator.”

(On Monday, the Trump administration named the new head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Uttam Dhillon, former deputy White House counsel, was named as the DEA’s acting administrator. Courtesy of Wochit News and YouTube. Posted on Jul 2, 2018.)

“Uttam is a dedicated public servant who has served with distinction in the White House, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, and as a career federal prosecutor taking on drugtraffickers at the highest levels.”

“I would also like to thank my good friend Robert Patterson for his exemplary service throughout his 30 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration, most recently as Acting Administrator.”

Dhillon began serving in the role of Acting Administrator immediately.

Dhillon has had a long career battling drug traffickers and violent crime.

In 2006, Dhillon was confirmed by the Senate as the first Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security.

In that role, Dhillon served as the primary policy advisor on counternarcotics issues, focused on combating the connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism and developed regional counternarcotics strategies for DHS.

Prior to DHS, Dhillon served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice, where he chaired the Attorney General’s Anti-Gang Coordination Committee, and led efforts to formulate and implement Department of Justice policies and programs to combat violent crime and criminal gangs.

Earlier in his career, Dhillon worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California for 6 ½ years.

During that period, Dhillon was appointed to the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and worked with federal and local law enforcement agencies to direct complex investigations of violent gangs and major narcotics trafficking organizations.

More recently, Dhillon has served as Deputy Counsel and Deputy Assistant to the President.

Dhillon also has significant experience in the Legislative Branch, holding several senior roles including Chief Oversight Counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, and Senior Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Both prior to and subsequent to his public service, Dhillon worked for several large law firms.

Dhillon received his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, an M.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. from California State University, Sacramento.

Editor’s note: Congratulations to Acting Director Vitiello of U.S. ICE and Acting Administrator Dhillon of DEA. We look forward to following your careers and your continued success safeguarding our nation, one city at a time.

We would also take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude to Acting Director Homan and DEA Acting Administrator Patterson for you many years of service. All the best in the much deserved retirements.