Senator Lankford Meets with Nominee for Director of ICE

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement after meeting with the nominee for Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ronald Vitiello, who currently serves as the Acting Director.

“My meeting with Acting Director Vitiello was productive,” said Lankford. “I was able to express my support and respect for the women and men who serve our nation every day through Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Today we discussed Acting Director Vitiello’s law enforcement priorities if he were to be confirmed. We also discussed the need for strong border security, the reunification of families, and the need to ensure solid partnerships between ICE and our state and local law enforcement. Acting Director Vitiello served for 30 years with the US Customs and Border Patrol before moving to ICE.  I look forward to seeing how he will implement his plan after the Senate completes his nomination process.

“ICE was created after September 11, 2001, to enforce our nation’s immigration laws. I am grateful for all the ICE agents who selflessly put on the uniform to protect our country.”  

In FY2017, ICE arrested almost 800 MS-13 gang members and seized 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and almost 1 million pounds of narcotics. They also freed 518 victims of human trafficking.

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