Trump Picks Former Border Patrol Chief to CBP's Top Post
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Rodney Scott as his choice for CBP commissioner. Scott is a former U.S. Border Patrol chief known for his experience tackling illegal immigration, according to a TruthSocial post.
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Scott was the 24th chief of the U.S. Border Patrol during Trump's first administration, serving from February 2020 to August 2021. He "achieved record low levels of illegal immigration" during his tenure, the post said, implementing two initiatives -- Remain-in-Mexico and Title 42 -- aimed at curbing illegal immigration and preventing migrants from remaining in the U.S.
Before assuming the position as U.S. Border Patrol chief, Scott led the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector. Other roles during his 29-year tenure with the Border Patrol include chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector; deputy chief patrol agent at San Diego Sector; patrol agent in charge at the Brown Field Station in San Diego Sector; assistant chief in CBP’s Office of Anti-Terrorism in Washington, D.C.; and director/division chief for the Incident Management and Operations Coordination Division at CBP headquarters.
Scott has been a consultant since 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile. Since October 2023, he has served as partner with Border911, an organization advocating stricter U.S. border measures.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation, an advocacy group that promotes enforcing U.S. border security, praised the appointment of Scott, who serves as a distinguished senior fellow there.
“Rodney is the best choice for this position, and he will be bringing decades of experience and knowledge to the incoming administration. Americans are finally going to know that the agencies responsible for securing our borders are doing just that," Selene Rodriguez, the group's Secure & Sovereign Texas campaign director said in a release. The release also said, "Scott’s appointment comes in the wake of four years of chaos at America’s borders, during which record numbers of unvetted illegal aliens entered the country. TPPF stands firmly behind the next administration’s efforts to disrupt the flow of human trafficking, combat the drug epidemic, and dismantle the violent cartels fueling it all."
In addition to naming Scott, Trump also announced the evening of Dec. 5 that he chose Caleb Vitello to serve as acting director of ICE. Scott and Vitello would be working with Trump's pick to head DHS, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.