President-Elect Donald Trump has just announced his pick for the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Trump announced the selection of Caleb Vitello for the role, via his Truth Social account on Thursday evening.

What this means, of course, is that Trump will force out Acting ICE Director Patrick “PJ” Lechleitner - who would otherwise be a Biden administration holdover.

This is all part of Trump's larger plan to fix the southern border crisis that has exploded under the Biden administration's leadership.

Trump's pick

The president-elect extolled Vitello in the statement that he released announcing his nomination.

Trump wrote:

A member of the Senior Executive Service, with over 23 years of service to ICE, Caleb currently serves as Assistant Director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, where he oversees Agency-wide training, equipment, and policy to ensure Officer and Public Safety.

The president-elect went on to tout Vitello's many accomplishments.

Then, he concluded:

Caleb’s exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and commitment to ICE’s mission make him an excellent choice to implement my efforts to enhance the safety and security of American communities who have been victimized by illegal alien crime.

Indeed, Vitello's record speaks for itself.

Looking forward

ICE is expected to play a large role in Trump's plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Washington Examiner reports:

Trump has vowed to carry out the nation’s largest deportation operation. To oversee the effort, Trump tapped Homan as his administration’s “border czar,” though Vitello will be the one in the area overseeing and carrying out the operation, at least initially.

The outlet continues:

Homan’s czar position is not a standard government post, but Homan’s assignment as czar will allow him to avoid a possibly ugly and unsuccessful confirmation battle in the Senate, given his outspoken nature and strong alignment with Trump on immigration matters.

Trump is clearly operating from a position of experience, having already served four years in the White House. Whereas the first time around, he had to learn the ropes, this time he seems to know exactly what he wants to do. Accordingly, he has been using this current period - between Election Day and Inauguration Day - to get all of his ducks in a row so that he and his administration can hit the ground running on day one.

There is no doubt that Trump is going to carry out his end of the bargain. The question is only how much he will be helped or hindered by Congress - particularly by the Senate, which will be tasked with confirming or denying his appointments.