Amidst a turbulent political climate surrounding immigration policy in the United States, insiders have brought to light a concerning issue within the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. JJ Carrell, a former US Border Patrol agent with 24 years of experience, has voiced allegations of "internal sabotage" that are reportedly stalling President Donald Trump's aggressive deportation campaign.
According to Carrell, who has since become an author and YouTuber, the administration is struggling to meet its immigration enforcement objectives. This information, shared in an interview with the Daily Mail, casts a shadow on the efficacy of the current immigration policy enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported the deportation of 527,000 illegal migrants this year, with an additional 1.6 million "self-deporting." While these figures exceed those under the Biden administration, they fall significantly short of the White House's target of one million arrests and 3,000 daily arrests.
"The numbers speak for themselves," Carrell stated, expressing frustration over the pace of deportations. "If we do this at this pace, it will take us over 125 years to deport everybody. This is unacceptable. It's ineffective, and it's not working. Period."
The shortfall, Carrell suggests, is not due to liberal judges or sanctuary cities, but rather a resistance within ICE itself. He identifies mid- and upper-level officials as the primary sources of resistance, some of whom he claims followed unconstitutional orders under the Biden administration but are now reluctant to carry out Trump's directives.
Carrell's criticisms extend to the structure of ICE, where many agents are specialized in areas such as white-collar crime, detention center management, or logistics, rather than the street-level arrests now in high demand. He also points to bureaucratic hurdles that keep eager former agents sidelined and unable to contribute to enforcement efforts.
Despite the Trump administration's efforts, which included the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July to fund 10,000 new ICE officers and additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, Carrell insists that the DHS is unable to scale its operations rapidly due to slow hiring processes and extensive background checks. These challenges are compounded by legal pushback, overcrowded detention centers, and civil-rights groups' accusations of cruelty.
In response to these issues, Carrell advocates for a radical overhaul of the immigration enforcement strategy. He suggests that the Border Patrol should take command of interior operations, that raids should be backed by military force, and that rapid immigration hearings should be conducted. He also proposes the use of C-130 aircraft to expedite the deportation process.
Public opinion on the matter is divided. A New York Times/Siena survey indicates that while 54% of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants, 52% disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration, and 51% believe his actions have been excessive.
Carrell concludes with a sense of urgency, stating, "A handful of dedicated officers are doing their jobs, and the rest amounts to theater. Unless Trump tears down internal obstacles and rebuilds the enforcement system, the promise that fueled his return to power may remain out of reach."
