The U.S. Senate has confirmed Rodney Scott as the new head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the largest law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. Scott, formerly the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, was approved in a 51–46 party-line vote, with all Republicans supporting the nomination and all Democrats opposed. He now leads a workforce of approximately 65,000 employees, split between the Border Patrol and the Office of Field Operations. Scott retired from the Border Patrol in August 2021 after being removed during the Biden administration for opposing politically driven policy changes, such as replacing the term “illegal alien” with “undocumented immigrant.” In an internal memo, he warned that such changes could damage public trust in law enforcement by undermining legal and factual consistency.
Following his departure, Scott became a leading voice for Trump-era border policies. He joined the Texas Public Policy Foundation as a Senior Fellow and publicly supported initiatives like the “Remain in Mexico” policy, Title 42, and the continued construction of the border wall. His confirmation comes at a critical juncture, as the Trump administration works to dismantle Biden-era immigration policies and reassert a stricter enforcement agenda. In a statement after the Senate vote, Scott said he was “honored” by the confirmation and pledged to “put America first.” Former President Trump praised Scott’s leadership, citing his role in achieving record-low levels of illegal immigration. Scott’s return to CBP leadership signals a strong pivot toward hardline immigration enforcement in the months ahead.
