President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to announce his decision to tap the former head of the U.S. Border Patrol under President Barack Obama, Mark Morgan, as the new chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Morgan will replace acting ICE Director Ronald Vitiello.
I am pleased to inform all of those that believe in a strong, fair and sound Immigration Policy that Mark Morgan will be joining the Trump Administration as the head of our hard working men and women of ICE. Mark is a true believer and American Patriot. He will do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2019
Morgan has opposed Congress' attempts to downplay the crisis taking place on the United States-Mexico border. Specifically, he has called for a fix to the "Flores Settlement," which prevents illegal aliens from being detained for more than 20 days.
He previously told Fox News he supports sending illegal aliens to sanctuary cities.
“Border Patrol, ICE, their facilities are overwhelmed, the faith-based organizations and other non-governmental organizations are overwhelmed,” Morgan said. “They have no choice. They’re going to have to start pushing these individuals out. Shouldn't we kind of share the burden throughout the country?”
Although he served during the last six months of the Obama administration, Morgan has supported Trump's tough immigration stance.
"I’m here and I've broken my silence for one reason: because it’s fact," Morgan said. “What the president is saying and what they're trying to do as far as the policy goes, it’s based on reality and fact and I know that because he’s listening to the experts. Not political pundits, not talking heads, he is listening to experts. Anyone who says this a manufactured crisis is absolutely misleading the American people.”
Morgan is expected to carry out Trump's wishes for tougher immigration policies because he has repeatedly said the situation at the border is a crisis.