Ron Vitiello, current Senior Advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and former Acting ICE Director, joined Joe Pags to provide a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. southern border crisis and the critical steps needed to address it. With decades of experience in immigration enforcement, Vitiello highlighted the policies and strategies necessary to restore order and combat criminal activity.
Vitiello stressed the importance of reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico), ending “catch and release” policies, and re-evaluating the use of the CBP1 app. “The CBP1 app could be turned around effectively,” Vitiello explained, suggesting it could be used to track individuals already released into the interior. He also emphasized the importance of leveraging agreements with Mexico to ensure stricter enforcement at their southern and northern borders, a strategy proven effective in the past.
Turning to the growing threat of cartels, Vitiello described their increasingly sophisticated operations, including the use of underground tunnels for smuggling drugs and people into the U.S. “This is what they have to go through: sophisticated tunnel[s] underground … to apply their trade into the United States. Because the front line would stop them if they saw them,” Vitiello said. Despite advancements in technology, he explained, detecting and shutting down these tunnels remains a significant challenge, requiring enhanced intelligence and support for agents on the ground.
Vitiello also addressed the critical role of morale among Border Patrol and ICE agents, pointing out that frontline officers are better equipped and more motivated when they know they have leadership that supports them. “The men and women on the frontline are gunna have someone in the Oval Office that has their back,” he said, referencing recent shifts in enforcement priorities.
The conversation also touched on sanctuary policies that protect repeat offenders. Citing recent cases where undocumented individuals with extensive criminal records were released, Vitiello called for federal action. “Sanctuary policies are destructive to the rule of law,” he asserted, advocating for stricter enforcement and federal intervention to hold non-compliant jurisdictions accountable.
From tackling cartel activities to streamlining immigration enforcement, Vitiello’s insights underscored the urgent need for decisive action and comprehensive reforms to protect U.S. borders and communities. With his wealth of experience, Vitiello provided a clear and practical roadmap for addressing one of the nation’s most pressing issues.