The Trump administration has launched a sweeping overhaul of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, removing field directors across the country and installing Border Patrol veterans to strengthen enforcement and speed up deportations.

Nearly half of ICE’s 25 field office directors are being reassigned, with many replaced by officials from the Department of Homeland Security — including experienced Border Patrol leaders. According to reports, these changes affect major cities like Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Diego, with more rotations expected soon.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, “While we have no personnel changes to announce at this time, the Trump administration remains laser focused on delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from this country.”

The reshuffling represents the third major leadership overhaul at ICE this year, part of a larger push from the White House to hit tough deportation goals and reassert control over immigration enforcement. Earlier reports indicated the administration had set a target of 3,000 arrests per day — a level that required faster operations and tighter coordination between ICE and the Border Patrol.

According to senior DHS officials, at least eight ICE offices are affected by this latest round of changes, marking what one source called “an unprecedented power shift” inside the agency. The goal is to move away from bureaucratic delays and toward a more aggressive, results-driven structure built on field experience.

Some career ICE officials had pushed back internally, preferring to focus arrests only on those with criminal convictions or final removal orders. Others, backed by the White House, argued for broader operations to restore deterrence at a time when illegal border crossings continue to pressure communities nationwide.

The Washington Examiner reported that acting ICE Director Todd Lyons argued against firing some of the displaced leaders outright, opting for reassignment instead. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who now oversees the department, has the final say on personnel decisions. More shifts are expected as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration strategy heading into the next election cycle.

Reports indicate this restructuring has already produced noticeable results. ICE and Border Patrol have increased coordinated sweeps in sanctuary cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, where federal officers have faced resistance from local officials refusing to cooperate with deportations.

Officials close to the effort described the new approach as “decisive and unapologetic,” prioritizing officers with field experience and a proven record of results.

The department’s most recent report claimed that more than 2 million illegal immigrants have been removed from the United States within 250 days — a figure touted by the White House as proof the administration’s hardline approach is working.

The changes come as public frustration grows over crime tied to illegal immigration and cities struggle with the consequences of open-border policies. Trump’s team has signaled that additional shake-ups could reach higher levels within DHS if performance metrics fall short.

While some critics call the reshuffle aggressive, supporters say it’s long overdue. With the border still under strain and sanctuary cities refusing to enforce federal law, the administration believes it must act quickly to restore control.

The new ICE leadership — drawn from the same ranks that spent years fighting cartels and human smugglers at the southern border — is expected to bring a tougher, more disciplined culture into an agency now central to national security.