WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has once again reshuffled the leadership of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to step up the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Kenneth Genalo, who previously led the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division — the ICE unit in charge of arrests and deportations — has retired and will now serve as a special adviser to the agency.

He is being replaced by Marcos Charles, a senior ICE official, who will now head ERO.

Additionally, Robert Hammer, the former chief of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been reassigned to another strategic role within ICE. His position has been filled by Derek Gordon, another career official from within the agency.

The moves follow mounting pressure from the White House, which has demanded a more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws by ICE.

In an interview with Fox News, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the Trump administration has set a minimum daily arrest target of 3,000 undocumented immigrants.

He described this figure as the "bare minimum" ICE must reach in the administration’s national immigration enforcement campaign.

Tom Homan, senior White House adviser on border policy — often referred to as the "border czar" — echoed the sentiment in an interview with CBS News.

He said the target was “highly achievable” and essential to restore what he claimed was lost order under the presidency of Joe Biden.

“The numbers have improved compared to the Biden era, but they’re still not enough,” Homan said, as quoted by CBN News on Friday (30/5).

In an official statement, ICE framed the leadership changes as a “realignment” to accelerate operational tempo across the agency.

“The organisational restructuring will support ICE’s mandate from President Trump and the American people to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records in order to protect public safety,” the agency said.

Earlier in February, Trump’s initial appointment of Caleb Vitello as head of ICE was reversed within weeks, with Todd Lyons now serving as Acting Director.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has not issued a formal response to the reshuffle.

Previously, Trump announced a USD 1,000 incentive per person to encourage undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States. (EF/KR/ZH)