The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed Rodney Scott as the head of Customs and Border Protection.
Previously, Scott held the position of Border Patrol Chief and currently oversees the largest enforcement department within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which employs around 65,000 individuals.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is divided into two main divisions: the Border Patrol, responsible for safeguarding the nation’s borders between ports of entry, and the Office of Field Operations (OFO), which manages security at the ports of entry.
Scott received confirmation through a 51-46 party-line vote, with all Republican senators supporting him and all Democratic senators opposing his appointment.
During the Biden administration, Scott was removed from his role as Border Patrol Chief after he resisted politically driven changes at CBP. In April 2021, Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller notified Scott that the agency would adopt the term “undocumented immigrant” in place of the legally precise term “illegal alien.”
At that time, Chief Scott sent an internal memo to Miller, asserting that, “The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is and must remain an apolitical federal law enforcement agency…Despite every effort by USBP leadership to maintain consistency in official messaging with law, fact, and evidence, it is undeniable that the USBP’s reputation has been adversely affected by numerous external influences. Requiring the use of terminology that contradicts legal definitions risks further diminishing public confidence in our governmental institutions.”
Scott is set to retire as Chief of the Border Patrol in August 2021.
Following his departure from the Border Patrol, Commissioner Scott continued to be a prominent advocate for border protection, consistently urging a return to the enforcement practices of the Trump administration. In the fall of 2021, he will take on the role of Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Scott has addressed Congress on numerous occasions and has made a significant number of media appearances, advocating for stricter immigration enforcement.
Commissioner Scott expressed optimism following the Senate’s vote. In his statement, Scott remarked: “I am honored that the United States Senate has confirmed my appointment, and I extend my gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Noem for their trust and steadfast leadership. Having begun my career on the front lines, I am now prepared to lead my CBP family with integrity and a clear mission to uphold our sovereignty, enforce the law, and prioritize America.”
President Donald Trump also commended Scott during the announcement of his nomination.
“Rodney has dedicated nearly thirty years to the Border Patrol, acquiring extensive experience and knowledge in Law Enforcement and Border Security. He served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, where he executed policies such as Remain-in-Mexico, Title 42, and Safe Third Agreements, resulting in historically low levels of illegal immigration,” Trump stated.
Scott’s confirmation arrives at a pivotal moment for CBP.
As the nation strives to recover from four years of open-borders policies, the agency is essential in fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to restore order at the border.
In the upcoming weeks and months, FAIR anticipates working closely with the Trump administration and CBP to reverse the adverse effects of the Biden administration’s policies.
On Monday, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to suspend a lower court injunction that had prevented deportations of individuals to third countries without prior notification.
This ruling represents a short-term victory for the administration as it seeks to swiftly implement its immigration enforcement measures.
The Court decided 6-3 in favor of staying the injunction, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.
The case involved a group of migrants challenging their deportations to third countries—nations other than their countries of origin.
