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Two senior officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have departed amid the Trump administration’s intensified push for increased deportations.
Kenneth Genalo, who led Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), is retiring, while Robert Hammer, head of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been reassigned. ICE described these changes as part of a broader leadership realignment aimed at supporting its escalating operational demands.
The departures coincide with the administration’s directive to triple daily migrant arrests to 3,000, a sharp increase from the previous target of 1,000. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have reportedly emphasized this goal, applying pressure on ICE to meet the new quotas. Reports suggest that officials falling short of these expectations could face dismissal.
ICE has appointed Marcos Charles to lead ERO and Derek Gordon to head HSI. These appointments are part of a series of leadership changes aimed at aligning the agency with the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda. The agency is also seeking increased funding to expand detention capacity and hire additional officers to meet the heightened arrest targets.
Despite these efforts, ICE faces logistical challenges, including limited detention space and resources. The agency has been conducting daily deportation flights and is working to streamline operations to handle the increased volume of arrests. However, achieving the ambitious goal of 3,000 daily arrests remains a significant undertaking.
The leadership changes and intensified enforcement efforts reflect the Trump administration’s commitment to its immigration policies. As ICE navigates these challenges, the agency’s ability to meet the administration’s expectations will be closely monitored.
Major shake-up at ICE: Kenneth Genalo, the head of Enforcement and Removal Operations, the agency’s deportation branch, will be retiring.
Robert Hammer, the head of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations branch, is being reassigned to another post.
Reporting with @NicoleSganga. https://t.co/yZHG8joEsy
— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) May 29, 2025
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