Trump considering Obama-era Border Patrol chief to take over ICE: report

The White House is reportedly thinking about tapping an Obama-era Border Patrol chief to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Mark Morgan, is being considered as replacement for former acting ICE Director Ronald Vitiello who resigned earlier this month after Trump said he wanted “to go in a tougher direction,” Bloomberg News reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House and ICE for comment. 

Morgan led Border Patrol during the last few months of Barack Obama’s presidency. He reportedly left his position one day after Trump signed an executive order directing the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border in January 2017. 

Vitiello’s departure comes amid a purge of Department of Homeland Security officials. President Trump announced earlier this month on Twitter that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would also be leaving the department. 

Kevin McAleenan, who was previously the Customs and Border Protection commissioner, replaced Nielsen.