White House Deportation Push Fuels Internal Strife at Homeland Security

By Blessing Nweke

White House pressure to accelerate deportations has triggered growing tension and internal finger-pointing inside the Department of Homeland Security, according to two DHS officials with direct knowledge of the situation.

The strain has centered on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, who officials say have sought to deflect blame for lagging deportation numbers onto senior leaders overseeing immigration enforcement. Those leaders include acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott.

The disputes come as deportation figures remain well below targets set by the Trump administration, even as immigration enforcement remains a core pillar of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda. ICE is arresting fewer than 1,000 people per day on average, according to recently released agency data, far short of the 3,000 daily arrests goal announced in May by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Tensions escalated further after Scott expressed concern to colleagues that Lewandowski could monitor his emails, prompting anxiety among senior staff about internal communications. “Everyone in leadership is so worried about what they say in email and text,” one top staffer said.

Lyons, according to the DHS officials, has privately rejected claims that he is responsible for inadequate detention capacity and at one point threatened to resign, arguing that Lewandowski controlled decisions related to detention facilities. ICE has since moved forward with plans to operate detention space in large warehouses.

Scott, meanwhile, has reportedly been excluded from key discussions on Border Patrol operations in major U.S. cities and from informal gatherings with other top DHS leaders. Officials say he has also been told his job may be at risk, despite record-low border crossings during his tenure.

A White House spokesperson defended Noem, saying she is effectively carrying out the president’s agenda and that deportations are increasing. DHS, ICE and CBP did not respond to requests for comment on the internal disputes.

Adding to the upheaval, Noem’s deputy, Troy Edgar, was recently informed that Trump plans to nominate him as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, a move that would remove him from DHS leadership.