Senate Democrats on Thursday grilled Ronald D. Vitiello, President Trump’s pick to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), bombarding him with pointed questions about the Administration’s Detention of Migrant Children and a Three-year-old Twitter post in which he made Derogatory Remarks about the Democratic Party.
Vitiello, a former Border Patrol Agent who was Appointed Acting Director of ICE in June, is seeking to become the First Permanent Director of the Agency in the Trump Administration. In his Opening Remarks, Vitiello portrayed himself as a Career Law Enforcement Official whose more than 30 years of Experience made him the ideal Leader for the Immigration Agency. “I have a deep understanding of the laws and policies governing our immigration system and am well prepared to lead ICE,” Vitiello said.
But several Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee questioned that Statement, noting his Role in the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” Immigration Policy that led to the Separation of Migrant Children from their Parents and a 2015 Twitter Post in which Vitiello referred to the Democratic Party as the “liberalcratic party or NeoKlanist Party.”
Asked about the tweet by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Vitiello said the Post was a Mistake that he Deeply Regretted. “I did not mean to suggest that the party was against American values,” he said. “I honestly didn’t mean it that way.”
Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), pressed Vitiello on the Detention of Migrant Children, asking if he Agreed with a Report by the American Academy of Pediatrics that found that Long-Term Detention Physically and Emotionally Harmed Minors. “Do you agree with pediatricians?” Ms. Hassan said. “Do you accept that long-term detention of children is detrimental?” “I understand the report, yes,” he answered. Vitiello was the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection when the Zero-Tolerance Policy was put in place. He did Not say whether he Agreed with the Report’s Findings.
ICE has become a Political Flash Point for its Role in Immigration Enforcement, which has included Arresting, Detaining, and Deporting Thousands of Undocumented Migrants, many of whom have No Criminal Records. Photographs and Videos of Raids at Work Sites or of ICE Agents Arresting Undocumented Immigrants have incited a Backlash. Several Prominent Democrats have called for the Agency to be Abolished.
As part of her Bid for Congress, Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Self-Described Democratic Socialist from New York, pressed for ICE to be Dismantled. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), considered potential 2020 Presidential Candidates, have joined Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats in Demanding that the Agency be Eliminated. Legislation is also Pending in the House to Abolish ICE in a Plan pushed by Representatives including Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
In his Testimony, Vitiello Rejected such Calls. “If confirmed, one of my highest priorities will be to better demonstrate to the public, Congress and the media the importance of our mission to homeland security and public safety — and why our agency’s existence should not be up for debate,” he said.
Vitiello received Letters of Support from several People who have worked with him, who described him as a Quiet and Thoughtful Leader willing to Engage with People who have Opposing Opinions. “His success will be that he has established a record as a nonpolitical law enforcement officer,” said R. Gil Kerlikowske, who was the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection during the Obama Administration. “His decisions will be guided by what’s best from the law enforcement perspective, not politics.”
As the Acting Director of ICE, Vitiello has taken a Low-Key approach to Running the Agency and carrying out the Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Policies. That Contrasts with his Predecessor, Thomas D. Homan, who became a Fox News Contributor after Retiring. Homan was known for his enthusiastic Public Support of the Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Policies, including telling Members of the House Appropriations Committee during a June 2017 Hearing that Undocumented Migrants “need to be worried.” He also issued a Public Challenge to the Transnational MS-13 Gang, warning, “My gang is bigger than theirs, and we are going to take them out.”
Vitiello faces a Number of Internal Problems at ICE. The Union representing ICE Officers sent a Letter to the Homeland Security Committee Questioning Vitiello’s Ability to Lead the Agency, saying he Lacked the Spark to be the “Change Agent.” Union Leaders also said they were Disturbed by a March 2016 Tweet by Vitiello comparing Trump to the Cartoon Character Dennis the Menace. The Union Endorsed Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election.
Vitiello said he had spoken with Leaders to Address their Concerns. In a June Letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security Secretary, 19 Senior ICE Investigators Demanded that the Agency be Split Up. The Investigators are among the more than 6,000 Special Agents from a Division of ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, that focuses on Money Laundering, Drug Trafficking, Human Smuggling, Child Exploitation, and Cybercrimes.
In the Letter, Senior Investigators said the Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Undocumented Migrants had Limited their Ability to pursue National Security Threats, Child Pornography Offenses, and Transnational Crime. Enforcement Removal Operations, another Division of ICE, is Responsible for Arresting and Deporting People who are in the United States Illegally.
Vitiello said he had met with the Investigators but would Not consider Splitting the Agency into Separate Entities. “I don’t think we should take any steps in that direction,” he said. “Having those two complementary missions side by side is better for America.”
Vitiello has worked in Law Enforcement for more than 30 years, starting in 1985 as a Border Patrol Agent in Laredo, Tex. While he was at Customs and Border Protection, he was the Public Face of the Agency’s efforts to Build a Border Wall.
Peter S. Vincent, the Top Lawyer at ICE during the Obama Administration, said Mr. Vitiello had a daunting Task in leading an Agency that is a Key Part of the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Stem Immigration. “Ron is measured, careful, thoughtful and not in any way prone to hyperbole or insensitive racially charged statements,” Vincent said. “All of which makes him a bad fit for this administration.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
