A behind-the-scenes struggle for influence over U.S. immigration enforcement is playing out inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a NewsNation report published Tuesday, despite public denials from agency leadership.
According to the news site, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said last week that reports of dissatisfaction within her department following the reassignment of roughly a dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field directors to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials were "absolutely false." She also insisted the administration was "thrilled" with the agencies' combined efforts to "help clean up our streets."
But multiple sources close to the White House told NewsNation the appearance of unity is misleading, describing mounting tension over who wields operational authority, centered on senior White House adviser Corey Lewandowski and White House Border Czar Tom Homan.
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Four White House and DHS officials confirmed to NewsNation—on condition of anonymity—that the two have clashed, creating uncertainty over who directs immigration enforcement. One of them described Lewandowski as the "shadow leader of DHS," operating in an unofficial capacity, claiming that he has reportedly acted as Noem's de facto chief of staff since January, working under "special government" employee status.
A statement from acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, shared with NewsNation defended the partnership:
"ICE and DHS have never had a closer working relationship. I am proud of the work we have done together for President Trump and Secretary Noem. Mr. Lewandowski has been a force in helping to ensure the men and women of law enforcement have the resources and support they need to do their jobs."
The news comes amid increased internal pressure to raise deportation numbers within the administration. While officials have publicly rejected claims of detention or removal "quotas," Miller has cited a figure of 3,000 daily migrant arrests since January. Sources told NewsNation that dissatisfaction with ICE's performance contributed to the leadership shake-ups, though Homan denied that a quota exists.
NewsNation confirmed that ICE field leaders in Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Diego were temporarily replaced by senior Border Patrol agents. The Associated Press later reported that as many as 12 directors—nearly half nationwide—had been reassigned.
Additional reporting from the Washington Examiner last week described a widening turf conflict as CBP and ICE disagree over who is best positioned to carry out President Donald Trump's interior enforcement campaign. Border Patrol agents who spoke with the news site criticized ICE officers for being unable to meet the moment and arrest more immigrants for deportation while an ICE official is quoted as saying:
"Border Patrol let tens of millions of illegal aliens flow across the border during 4 years under Biden. Almost every illegal alien ICE has arrested in the interior who came in during those years was handed a piece of paper by Border Patrol and sent on their merry way to a U.S. city near you. Border Patrol created this mess, and ICE is cleaning it up"
It remains unclear whether DHS intends to merge ICE and CBP, a proposal backed by the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, as the Washington Examiner points out, emphasizing that such a consolidation would require an act of Congress.
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