The U.S. Senate has confirmed Rodney Scott as the head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by a party-line vote of 51-46. All Republican senators supported his confirmation, while all Democrats opposed it.
Scott previously served as the Chief of the Border Patrol but was forced out during the Biden administration. This followed his opposition to a directive mandating the use of the term “undocumented immigrant” instead of “illegal alien,” which he argued was inconsistent with the law.
Following his departure, Scott remained a vocal advocate for stricter border enforcement. He publicly supported a return to Trump-era policies, including the construction of a border wall and the “Remain in Mexico” program.
In a statement after the vote, Scott expressed his honor and readiness to lead the agency. He emphasized a mission to defend U.S. sovereignty and enforce the law.
President Donald Trump also praised Scott’s confirmation. He highlighted Scott’s decades of experience and his role in implementing key immigration policies during his previous tenure.
Scott’s confirmation occurs at a pivotal moment for CBP. The agency is central to the Trump administration’s efforts to reverse the border policies of the preceding administration.
In a related development, the Supreme Court recently granted the administration a short-term victory. The court paused a lower court’s order that had blocked the deportation of certain migrants to third countries, allowing these removals to proceed for now.
